Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez, who was questioned as a witness in connection with Rs. 200-crore money laundering case, was a victim of the same racket, sources said.
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday began questioning the actor in an alleged money laundering case, reports ANI. According to an ED source, the 36-year-old actor fell on the radar of Sukesh Chandrashekar, the alleged mastermind of the racket, through his partner Leena Paul, reports NDTV.
Also Read: Money laundering case: ED questions Jacqueline Fernandez as ‘witness’ in Delhi
“She is not an accused, but is being examined as a witness in the case against conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar,” sources in the ED told NDTV.
According to the source, the actor had shared crucial details in her statement recorded over five hours.
The central agency source also added that the investigation has revealed that a top Bollywood actor was targeted by Sukesh. However, the name has not been made public due to security reasons.
Earlier, the ED also summoned leading Tollywood stars including actors and directors in connection with a four-year-old drugs case. The federal agency has issued summons to Telugu stars like Rakul Preet Singh, Rana Daggubati, Ravi Teja, Puri Jagannadh, asking them to appear before the concerned authorities for questioning.
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Puri Jagannadh, Charmee Kaur, Mumaith Khan, Navdeep and Nandu have also been summoned by ED. According to ED sources, Calvin Mascarenhas, who was considered to be the alleged kingpin in the drug racket, had the phone numbers of several celebrities saved in his contacts.
On August 24, the ED had said that it had seized a sea-facing bungalow in Chennai, Rs 82.5 lakh cash in connection with the case against Sukesh. The case is based on the FIR of Delhi police’s economic offences wing against him and others over alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating, and extortion of about Rs 200 crore.
“Sukesh Chandrasekhar is the mastermind of this fraud. He has multiple FIRs against him and is presently lodged at the Rohini jail,” the Enforcement Directorate said in the statement last week.
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On the work front, Jacqueline will be next seen in ‘Bhoot Police’.