New Delhi: A Delhi court has summoned actor Nora Fatehi to appear as a witness on November 6 in the Rs 200-crore extortion case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, after expressing displeasure over her failure to attend the proceedings.
Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Singh issued fresh summons on Monday after Fatehi's counsel sought exemption from her appearance.
The judge cautioned the actor against treating the court's directions lightly.
“This cannot be taken lightly… As a witness, you should have appeared in court; your conduct is not proper, don’t take the court for granted,” the judge said.
Delhi Police told the court that it had no confirmation of Fatehi's appearance. The police said a notice had been sent to her by email and WhatsApp on October 22, and that calls had also been made, but she had not responded.
On October 16, the court had directed that summons be issued to the actor, also referred to as Naura Fatehi.
The case against Chandrasekhar is being investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell and is currently at the stage of prosecution evidence.
A court had earlier framed charges against Chandrasekhar, his wife Leena Paulose and others under Sections 170, 384 and 386 of the Indian Penal Code, besides provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999.
The police chargesheet had named several witnesses, including Bollywood actors Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi. Individual witnesses are initially listed as LWs and are designated prosecution witnesses after appearing in court.
According to the police, Chandrasekhar and his associates allegedly extorted money from Aditi Singh, wife of former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh, by posing as government officials and promising to secure her husband's release from jail in a money laundering case.
Police allege that Chandrasekhar, while lodged in Rohini jail, impersonated a central government official through a spoofed phone call and persuaded Aditi to transfer money by promising to arrange bail for her husband.