Film actor Jacqueline Fernandez has obtained significant legal relief from a Delhi court after securing permission to renew her employment visa in India. The relief comes in connection with the high-profile 200 crore rupee money laundering proceedings involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, where the actor stands as one of the accused individuals facing trial.
Court Considers Ongoing Trial and Professional Engagements
In an order pronounced on October 6, Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Singh recorded that the actor is a citizen of Sri Lanka who has been residing in India on an employment visa since 2009. That visa tenure had subsequently lapsed, requiring an extension to maintain her lawful stay. Legal counsel representing Fernandez highlighted that the Foreigners Regional Registration Office declined to process the renewal of her work visa without an explicit No Objection Certificate from the trial court.
Evaluating the application, the court noted that Fernandez maintains deep professional engagements within the Indian entertainment sector, with multiple scheduled assignments across the country. Crucially, the bench emphasized that her continued physical presence in India remains vital to ensure her effective participation in the ongoing legal proceedings. The court also recalled that on February 20, 2025, her passport had been released to facilitate its reissuance through the Sri Lankan Embassy. Taking these circumstances together, the judge concluded that granting an NOC to apply for a visa extension was appropriate under governing laws.
Background of the Financial Probe and Charges
The case stems from an extensive financial investigation into an alleged extortion and laundering operation valued at 200 crore rupees. Earlier in June, the trial court had formally framed charges against Sukesh Chandrashekhar, Fernandez, and 15 other individuals tied to the illicit network. The probe saw the Enforcement Directorate interrogate the actor for 10 hours on December 9, 2021, before formally naming her as an accused in its supplementary complaint on August 17, 2022.
Professional Fallout and Legal Stakes
The ongoing legal scrutiny has cast a visible shadow over Fernandez's film career. The fallout previously led to her removal from the Nagarjuna starrer 'The Ghost'. However, with key professional commitments still lined up in India and trial hearings underway, the grant of this court clearance enables her to formalize her immigration standing while meeting her obligations before the justice system.
