The Supreme Court of India on Thursday, June 25, 2026 permitted Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez to withdraw her special leave petition that challenged the ongoing trial proceedings in a Rs 200-crore money laundering case.
A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi dismissed the case as withdrawn after the actor's counsel made a formal prayer to withdraw the petition. The court granted Fernandez the liberty to avail of appropriate legal remedies available under the law.
The petition filed by Jacqueline had challenged a previous order from the Delhi High Court, which had refused to quash the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) prosecution complaint. Furthermore, the plea sought to contest a trial court’s decision to frame formal charges against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). During the hearing, the bench observed that the petitioner sought permission to withdraw the special leave petition with the intent to pursue other remedies before an appropriate forum.
The matter had reached this specific bench following a recusal by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra on June 11, 2026. Justice Mishra had disclosed that his son had previously appeared on behalf of the government in a connected matter, necessitating the case be placed before a different bench. Consequently, the case was reassigned to the current bench for the June 25 hearing.
The underlying legal battle originates from a 2021 complaint filed by Aditi Singh, who alleged she had been defrauded of approximately Rs 200 crore. The complaint suggested that a syndicate led by alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, who reportedly impersonated senior government officials while operating from jail, carried out the extortion. Following the initial investigation by the Delhi Police into this predicate offence, the Enforcement Directorate lodged a money laundering case under the PMLA.
According to the Enforcement Directorate, Chandrasekhar utilized the proceeds of crime to purchase luxury gifts and provide various benefits to several high-profile celebrities, including Fernandez. The agency alleged that the actor received items and benefits valued at approximately Rs 5.71 crore to Rs 7 crore. These luxury items reportedly included designer bags, jewellery, expensive watches, and vehicles for her family members, along with foreign fund transfers.
The ED has maintained that Fernandez remained in contact with Chandrasekhar even after learning about his criminal antecedents. The agency further alleged that her conduct during the investigation was not satisfactory and that she had failed to make a full and true disclosure in her recorded statements. In April 2022, the ED provisionally attached assets belonging to the actor worth Rs 7.27 crore as part of its ongoing probe.
Conversely, Fernandez has consistently denied any knowledge of Chandrasekhar's alleged criminal activities or the illicit source of the funds used to purchase the gifts. Her legal team has argued that she was a victim of deception by Chandrasekhar and was unaware of the alleged money laundering operations. She was granted regular bail in the case in November 2022 on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh.
On May 30, 2026, a special court in Delhi formally ordered the framing of charges against Fernandez, Chandrasekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul, and several others. Appearing before the Patiala House Court on June 3, Fernandez pleaded not guilty and expressed her readiness to contest the allegations on their merits during the trial. The court noted that there was sufficient material on record to raise a strong suspicion against the accused persons.
Prior to this withdrawal in the Supreme Court, Fernandez had also engaged in other legal maneuvers, including an application seeking to turn into an approver in the case. This move, which would have potentially seen her become a prosecution witness, was opposed by the ED. She eventually withdrew this application in May 2026.
The withdrawal of the Supreme Court plea does not conclude the criminal proceedings against the actor. The trial is set to continue before the Special Judge at the Patiala House Court, with the next set of proceedings scheduled for July 16, 2026. The court is expected to begin recording the prosecution's evidence as per the list of witnesses provided.
Case title: JACQUELINE FERNANDEZ Versus DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT, SLP(Crl) No. 11208/2026
