SC judge recuses from hearing Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea against framing of charges
A bench comprising justices PK Mishra and AS Chandurkar directed that the matter be listed before another bench on June 25.
At the outset, Chief Public Prosecutor Tushar Mehta informed the delegation that he was present on behalf of the investigation agency, the Enforcement Directorate.
Justice Mishra said, “There are some difficulties; it will be before another bench. In one of the connected matters, my son sided with the government. Send this before the bench of which neither of us is a member.”
Fernandez here challenged the May 30 order of the Patiala House Court, which directed the framing of charges against the actor in the case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
On May 30, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma ruled that a prima facie case would be made out against Fernandez based on the materials produced by the ED.
The court stated that there was prima facie material to show that Fernandez received luxurious gifts from Chandrasekhar despite having knowledge of their past criminal antecedents. The judge said Fernandez connived with Chandrasekhar to hide the use of proceeds of crime (POC).
On June 3, charges against Chandrashekhar and Fernandez, among others, were formally framed, following which the hearing of the case began.
The actor had previously filed to be an approver in the ED case; but Fernandez withdrew the offer on April 16 because the agency opposed it.
Both Chandrasekhar and his wife were arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2021 for their alleged role in the fraud case. They are currently under judicial custody.
