Jacqueline Fernandez pleads innocence, opts to face trial in money laundering case

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, June 3 (IANS) Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez on Wednesday pleaded not guilty in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar and expressed her willingness to face trial before a Delhi court.

Appearing before the Patiala House Court, Jacqueline denied the charges framed against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and opted to contest the case on merits.

The court also framed charges of money laundering against Sukesh Chandrashekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul, and 14 others, with all accused pleading not guilty and seeking trial. The matter has now been listed for further hearing on July 16.

The development comes weeks after Jacqueline withdrew her application seeking to be made an approver in the case before the Patiala House Court.

The move followed strong opposition from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which had argued before the court that the actor’s conduct during the investigation was “not satisfactory” and that she had failed to make a “full and true disclosure” in her statements recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA.

The federal anti-money laundering agency had contended that Jacqueline did not fully cooperate with the investigation and consistently failed to make complete and truthful disclosures regarding the alleged proceeds of crime generated by Chandrashekhar.

Opposing her plea to become a prosecution witness, the ED had further alleged that Jacqueline remained in regular contact with Chandrashekhar even after learning about his criminal antecedents.

According to the probe agency, Chandrashekhar arranged luxury gifts, valuables, and other benefits for Jacqueline using proceeds of crime generated through the alleged money-laundering activities.

The ED has accused Jacqueline of receiving luxury gifts worth around Rs 7 crore from Chandrashekhar. However, the actor has consistently maintained that she had no knowledge of his alleged criminal activities or the source of the money used for those gifts.

The money laundering case stems from allegations that Chandrashekhar cheated the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of nearly Rs 200 crore.

–IANS

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Traffic curbs in Noida-Greater Noida ahead of Jewar airport inauguration

Noida, March 28 (IANS) Ahead of the inauguration of Phase 1 of the Noida International Airport on Saturday, the Noida Traffic Police has issued a detailed advisory outlining entry routes, diversions and parking arrangements for vehicles, officials said.

The advisory, which will remain in force from 7 A.M. onwards, has been implemented to ensure smooth movement during the high-profile event, with special provisions made for emergency vehicles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the first phase of the airport in Jewar at around noon.

According to the traffic plan, the movement of heavy, medium and light goods vehicles will remain restricted on key stretches, including the Noida–Greater Noida Expressway, Yamuna Expressway and adjoining routes. However, emergency services will be permitted to use these corridors.

Vehicles approaching from Meerut and Ghaziabad will be diverted via the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. They will exit at Sirsa Toll and proceed through designated roundabouts before reaching the venue.

Traffic coming from Mathura and Aligarh through the Yamuna Expressway will be directed to exit at Jewar Cut and then enter via the Sabauta Underpass and Kishorpur Gate.

Similarly, commuters from Hapur, Bulandshahr and nearby regions will be rerouted along the Jewar-Khurja road and allowed entry through Parohi Gate.

Dignitaries and VIPs attending the event have been advised to access the venue through a dedicated interchange on the Yamuna Expressway, where separate parking arrangements have been made. Media personnel have been instructed to enter through the Kishorpur Gate.

Police personnel, administrative officials and government employees deployed for duty will also use the Kishorpur Gate, while official buses will be routed through Dayanantpur.

Commuters travelling from Noida and Greater Noida via the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway will be diverted through specified roundabouts and service lanes, and will enter through a temporary gate set up near the Ranehra Police Post.

Two-wheelers and other light vehicles will be allowed entry through Kishorpur Gate, which will also be used by vehicles coming from Jewar town.

The advisory has urged the public to strictly follow the designated routes and avoid unnecessary travel in the vicinity of the venue to facilitate the smooth conduct of the inauguration.

–IANS

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‘France stands firmly with India and continue fight against terrorism’, says President Macron; dials PM Modi on Pahalgam terror attack

Paris, April 25 (IANS) French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the telephone over the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and said that France stands firmly with India and its people in this hour of grief.

Macron also said that France will stand together with its allies and would continue the fight against terrorism wherever necessary.

Taking to social media platform X, the French President wrote: “I have just spoken to my counterpart @narendramodi about the cowardly terrorist attack on Tuesday, which resulted in the tragic death of dozens of innocent civilians. France stands firmly with India and its people in this hour of grief. France, together with its allies, will continue the fight against terrorism wherever necessary.”

Earlier on Thursday evening, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X: “President @EmmanuelMacron called Prime Minister @narendramodi and conveyed his personal condolences on the brutal killing of innocent people in the heinous terror attack in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He strongly condemned the attack and expressed full support and solidarity with the people of India adding that this kind of barbarism is totally unacceptable.”

MEA Spokesperson Jaiswal further wrote: “Prime Minister thanked him (French President Emmanuel Macron) for his message of support and conveyed India’s strong resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

The heinous Pahalgam terrorist attack, which occurred on Tuesday in the Baisaran meadow of Anantnag district, has drawn condemnation from across the world.

The brutal incident led to the killing of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, and injuring several others.

Following the attack, India convened a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

The Central government has announced several diplomatic measures, such as closing the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, suspending the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, giving them 40 hours to return to their country, and reducing the number of officers in the High Commissions on both sides.

India also halted the Indus Waters Treaty signed in 1960 in the wake of the Pahalgam attack.

–IANS

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Rahul Gandhi’s remarks completely baseless, he is yet to respond to June 12 letter: EC

New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has hit back at Rahul Gandhi over his repeated allegations about irregularities in the Maharashtra Assembly elections held in 2024, asserting that the Congress leader has not responded to an official invitation extended to him nearly two months ago.

In a letter dated June 12, 2025, the Commission invited the Leader of the Opposition for an interaction regarding concerns he raised in a write-up that he wrote for a newspaper.

The ECI clarified that similar issues had already been raised by the Indian National Congress post-elections and were addressed in detail in an official response on December 24, 2024 – available on the Commission’s website.

On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi again attacked the poll panel and said that it is no longer acting independently and described ECI as “dead.”

EC sources said that allegations made by Rahul Gandhi are completely baseless and that there were no discrepancies in any elections.

Sources within the Commission said that Rahul Gandhi has yet to respond to the June 12 invitation. They dismissed his claims as “baseless” and said such statements could undermine public trust in a constitutionally independent body.

“The Commission operates in a completely transparent manner. All its actions are open to scrutiny and governed strictly by the law,” a senior ECI official said.

Notably, on Thursday also the poll panel reaffirmed the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), declaring them tamper-proof after a comprehensive checking and verification (C&V) exercise conducted in Maharashtra.

The process was initiated following applications from 10 candidates who had contested the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections.

The exercise involved 48 Ballot Units (BUs), 31 Control Units (CUs), and 31 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs).

The verification confirmed that all machines were in proper working condition and no mismatches were found between the EVM results and VVPAT slips.

The development comes amid increasing political tension between the Congress party and the Election Commission, with Gandhi repeatedly accusing the latter of acting under pressure.

The ECI’s response is being seen as a firm rebuttal to such criticism.

–IANS

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