New Delhi: A Delhi court is likely to hear on March 25 a criminal complaint filed by actor Nora Fatehi against Jacqueline Fernandez for allegedly defaming her name by “unfairly dragging” her name into a ₹200 crore money laundering case involving an alleged con man Sukesh Chandrashekar.
Nora Fatehi, a Canadian citizen, also listed 15 media organizations in her complaint.
The matter, which was due to be heard on Saturday, was adjourned because the judge was on leave for judicial training, Ms. Fatehi’s lawyer said.
In her complaint, Ms.Nora Fatehi said she had a “tainted reputation in addition to a fast-growing career which quite clearly threatened her rivals who are unable to compete with her on a fair basis”.
The defamatory statement was made by Jacqueline Fernandez in “bad faith” and with “little bona fides” and was circulated by media houses with the intention of defaming her, she said.
The complaint alleged that the claims of Ms. Fernandez, also a Bollywood actress, that Fatehi received gifts from Chandrashekar were false.
“The complainant spoke to Chandrashekar only when his wife Leena Maria Paul made her speak to him on speakerphone at an event in Chennai where the complainant had invited Leena. At the event, the complainant was gifted an iPhone and a Gucci bag by Leena.
The complainant never received any information from Chandrashekar he did not receive any gifts,” Ms. Fatehi said in the complaint.
Nora Fatehi also denied getting a luxury car from Chandrashekar and said it was a partial payment to her brother-in-law Bobby Khan, who was approached by Chandrashekar to direct the film.
“Therefore, since the complainant never even spoke to Chandrashekar let alone met him, the imputations made by Fernandez and their subsequent publication by the accused media houses are false,” the complaint said.
On November 15, the court granted bail to Fernandez, who is accused in a money laundering case. She was not arrested in the case.
On August 31, the court took cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet filed by the Directorate of Enforcement and asked Fernandez to appear before it.
Ms. Fernandez, who has been summoned by the ED several times in connection with the investigation, has been named as an accused in the additional charge sheet.