The assets were attached under the anti-money laundering law in connection with the criminal probe against alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar and others
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets amounting to Rs 7.27 crore belonging to Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez in connection with its money laundering probe into the activities of conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar.
The attached assets include fixed deposits worth Rs 7.12 crore.
“During the investigation, it was revealed that Sukesh Chandrasekhar had given various gifts worth Rs 5.71 crore to Jacqueline Fernandez from the proceeds of crime generated by criminal activities including extortion. Sukesh Chandrasekhar had put Pinky Irani, his long-time associate, and co-accused in this case, to deliver the said gifts to her. In addition to these gifts, Sukesh Chandrasekhar had also given funds to the tune of USD 172,913 and AUD 26,740 to the close family members of Jacqueline Fernandez out of the proceeds of crime through co-accused Avtar Singh Kochhar, an established and well-known international hawala operator,” an ED statement said.
“Sukesh Chandrasekhar had also delivered cash to the tune of Rs 15 lacs to a scriptwriter on behalf of Ms. Jacqueline Fernandez as advance for writing a script of her web-series project. This cash amount has also been attached,” it added.
The ED said that Chandrasekhar used to make spoofing calls to people, claiming to be a government officer and offering help for a price.
Adopting this modus operandi, the ED statement said, Chandrasekhar “contacted Aditi Singh w/o Shivinder Mohan Singh (formerly associated with Ranbaxy and Fortis Healthcare) by impersonating himself as Union Home Secretary, Union Law Secretary, an officer from Prime Minister’s Office and junior officials and extorted more than Rs 200 crore from her over a period of 1 year on the pretext of contribution to party funds.”
ED investigations revealed that Chandrasekhar was running his illegal extortion business from Central Jail, Delhi in connivance with jail officials.
“During the investigation, searches were conducted under PMLA at various premises all over India and properties seized viz. bungalow in Chennai, 26 cars, Indian currency, valuables etc valued at Rs 45 Crore appx,” the ED statement said.
The ED earlier arrested Chandrasekhar and eight others including his wife Leena Maria Paul and even filed prosecution complaints.
“Investigation with regards to tracing the remaining Proceeds of Crime is in progress,” the ED said.
