A city court has sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to a plea by Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez, accused in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case also involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar, seeking permission to travel to Bahrain to visit her mother.
Special Judge Shailendra Malik issued notice to the anti-money laundering probe agency returnable by December 22 when it will hear the fresh plea of Fernandez who wants to visit Bahrain from December 23 to January 5. Chandrasekhar, who is accused of conning people of Rs 200 crore, on Tuesday reiterated that he gave “Rs 60 crore to the Aam Aadmi Party".
The court has also allowed the ED to take possession of 26 cars attached from actress Leena Maria Paul, in this case. A video of him giving the statement to the media has gone viral on social media. Sukesh appeared before Delhi’s Patiala House court to record the statement. While he was being taken back from the court, reporters tried to ask him questions. One was the question about alleged money being given to AAP. Sukesh said he gave Rs 60 crores. “I have given everything in writing," he told reporters. He did not reply to any other questions, including how the transactions happened. Sukesh’s counsel Anant Malik spoke to media and said a high-powered committee in court took his statement and a probe into matter should be done.
Sukesh appeared in court in connection to the Rs 200 crores money laundering case. Meanwhile, Jacqueline Fernandes also appeared in Delhi's Patiala House Court in connection with the Rs 200 crore money laundering involving Sukesh. The actor has submitted an application seeking permission to travel abroad amid the ongoing investigation. As mentioned in the application, Jacqueline has to travel to Bahrain on December 23.
Earlier, Sukesh in a statement to a committee constituted by Lieutenant Governor of Delhi VK Saxena, had reiterated his charge of paying money to AAP minister Satyendar Jain for protection in jail and getting a Rajya Sabha berth. The AAP leaders had dismissed his charges saying he was speaking like a BJP spokesperson and that he would join the party after coming out of jail.
A three-member committee headed by the principal secretary (home), constituted to inquire into the allegations of Sukesh against Jain and others, has found the allegations “serious” in nature and recommended investigation by a specialised agency. During the course of its inquiry, the committee met Sukesh as well as officials of the ED and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigating the case, according to officials aware of the development.