Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra on Thursday recused from hearing actor Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea challenging the order directing framing of charges against her in the ₹200-crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
The matter was listed before a Bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice A.S. Chandurkar. At the outset, Justice PK Mishra recused himself from hearing the case, citing a conflict arising from his son’s appearance in a connected matter. He remarked:
“
“Sorry, I cannot hear this. There is some difficulty. In a connected matter, my son had appeared. List this matter on July 22 before a Bench in which I am not a member.”
Jacqueline Fernandez has approached the Supreme Court challenging a Delhi court’s order directing that charges be framed against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in connection with the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation into the alleged ₹200-crore extortion racket involving Sukesh Chandrashekhar. She has consistently denied any involvement in the alleged offence and has contested the findings forming the basis of the charge-framing order.
The Supreme Court had agreed to examine the challenge, and the matter was originally listed for hearing today, i.e. on June 11. With Justice PK Mishra recusing from the case, the matter will now be considered by a different Bench on the next date of hearing.