In a significant legal twist, the Supreme Court has permitted Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez to withdraw her Special Leave Petition (SLP). The petition had challenged a Delhi High Court order that refused to throw out the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) prosecution complaint, alongside a trial court’s decision to frame money laundering charges against her.
Inside the Courtroom Dynamics
The withdrawal caps off a sequence of judicial shifts over the past few weeks:
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Bench Realignment: The matter was initially brought before a bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Atul S. Chandurkar on June 11. However, Justice Mishra recused himself after disclosing that his son had previously represented the government in a related matter.
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The Final Hearing: Following the recusal, the case moved to a new bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi on June 25, where Fernandez’s legal team ultimately requested to withdraw the plea.
Key Milestones in the Case
With the Supreme Court petition pulled back, the focus shifts entirely to the ongoing trial court proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Plea to Turn Approver Dropped
Late May / Early June 2026
Fernandez withdrew her application to turn state’s witness (approver). The ED actively opposed this move, stating her previous disclosures under Section 50 of the PMLA were unsatisfactory.
Charges Denied in Trial Court
June 3, 2026
Appearing before Delhi’s Patiala House Court, Fernandez pleaded not guilty to the PMLA charges, stating she would contest the case entirely on its merits.
June 25, 2026
The actor officially withdraws her SLP from the apex court, locking in the trial timeline.
July 16, 2026
The Patiala House Court is scheduled to resume proceedings against Fernandez, alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul, and 14 co-accused.
The Core Allegation: The ED alleges that Fernandez accepted luxury gifts and assets valued at approximately ₹7 crore from Sukesh Chandrashekhar, despite allegedly being aware of his criminal background. Fernandez has consistently denied these claims, asserting she had no knowledge regarding the source of the funds or any ongoing criminal enterprises. The core case involves the alleged duping of the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters out of roughly ₹200 crore.
