'Unfairly dragged': Nora Fatehi files defamation case against Jacqueline Fernandes in Rs 200 cr extortion case

Actor Nora Fatehi on Monday moved a defamation case against Jacqueline Fernandes and multiple media houses for 'unfairly dragged(ing)' her name into Rs 200 crore extortion case involving conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. 

Fatehi said she had no contact directly with Chandrashekhar and that she knew him only through his wife Lena Maria Paul. Fatehi has denied receiving any gifts from Chandrashekhar and said the media trial is damaging her reputation.

Nora Fatehi and Jacqueline Fernandes are facing a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Both the actors have been accused of taking expensive gifts from the conman, who is currently in jail.   

Nora Fatehi has now moved a defamation suit of Rs 200 crore against Jacqueline Fernandes alleging that Fernandes made false statements with malicious intent.

In her plea, Fatehi said Jacqueline Fernandes sought to criminally defame her in order to destroy her career 'to further her own interests, since they are both working in the same industry and have similar backgrounds, amongst other reasons'.

Jacqueline in a written plea submitted recently said that she was being falsely implicated by the probe agency while celebs such as Fatehi who had also received gifts from conman Chandrashekhar had been made witnesses. 

The ED has named Jacqueline as an accused in the case while Fatehi has been made a witness.  

Fatehi filed the case against Jacqueline because of her submission before the court.

"...both the complainant (Fatehi) and the accused (Fernandez) are actresses of foreign origin and both have had their share of struggles in rising to fame in the Indian film industry, hence, it is evident that the act of the accused in dragging the name of the complainant wherein she has no business mentioning the complainant is mala fide in nature,” the plea stated.

Earlier this month, the central probe agency grilled Fatehi for more than five hours. 

According to ED, Fernandez and Fatehi got luxury cars and other expensive gifts from Chandrashekar. The agency has also said that it recorded Fernandez's statements on August 30 and October 20, 2021, where she said that she received gifts from Chandrashekar.

The agency recorded Fatehi's statements on September 13 and October 14, 2021, wherein she stated that she had received gifts from Chandrashekar and his wife and actress Leena Paulose, according to news agency PTI.