Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has informed the Patiala House Court in Delhi that she wishes to turn approver (government witness) in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money-laundering probe involving convicted fraudster Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
During a hearing on Friday, 17 April 2026, Fernandez expressed her readiness to cooperate fully as a witness in the case. However, the court clarified that she must first submit a formal application to the ED before any such status can be considered. Once filed, the agency will record her statement and decide whether to move the court for her formal designation as an approver.
Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has expressed her willingness to become an approver (government witness) before the Patiala House Court in the ₹200 crore money laundering case linked to Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Fernandez informed the court that she is ready to cooperate and… pic.twitter.com/ozWEVifldW
— IANS (@ians_india) April 17, 2026
Jacqueline Fernandez expressed her willingness to become an approver months after the Supreme Court refused to cancel the criminal proceedings against her in the case.
This marks a notable development in a case that has spanned several years. Sukesh Chandrashekhar, currently imprisoned in Tihar jail on multiple fraud convictions, is accused of masterminding a ₹215 crore extortion racket. The ED alleges he impersonated senior government officials to dupe the families of former Ranbaxy promoters Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, funnelling the proceeds through shell companies and hawala networks.
The agency claims Chandrashekhar used part of these illicit funds to shower Fernandez with luxury gifts, including jewellery, designer clothes, and vehicles, valued at over ₹7 crore. These were reportedly delivered via an associate, Pinky Irani. The ED named Fernandez as a co-accused in its August 2022 chargesheet, attaching assets worth ₹7.27 crore belonging to her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Fernandez was granted bail by the Patiala House Court in November 2022. She has consistently maintained that she was misled by Chandrashekhar into believing he was a legitimate businessman and had no knowledge of the criminal origins of the gifts. The ED, however, has alleged she accepted the items despite knowing of his criminal activities, deleted phone data after her arrest, and initially concealed her financial dealings before admitting them when confronted with evidence.
She has fought the case vigorously, including unsuccessful attempts to quash the proceedings in the Delhi High Court (July 2025) and the Supreme Court (September 2025).
Even from prison, Chandrashekhar has repeatedly professed his affection for Fernandez through unsolicited love letters sent on special occasions. He has described himself as her boyfriend, addressed her as “baby girl” and “queen”, and referenced their “shared love story”. In one such communication on Valentine’s Day this year, he claimed to have sent her a luxury chopper as a gift, addressing her as “My Baby Bomma Jaqueline”.
Fernandez previously sought court intervention in December 2023 to stop him from sending further letters or making public statements about her.
