'Unable to compete with...': Nora Fatehi sues Jacqueline Fernandez over defamation charges
Mumbai/IBNS: Bollywood actor Nora Fatehi Monday filed a case against fellow actor Jacqueline Fernandez, and 15 media houses, over alleged defamatory remarks made by the latter.
Nora Fatehi accused the media organisations of "carrying forward and circulating" Jacqueline's remarks.
Nora claimed that her rival actor and the media organisations "were acting in connivance with each other".
"A conspiracy by the accused No. 1 (Jacqueline Fernandez) to ensure the financial, social, and personal downfall of the complainant was hatched, and enacted by the said action," Nora has said in the petition filed through her lawyer.
"Her (Nora Fatehi's) rapidly progressing career quite obviously has threatened her rivals who are unable to compete with her on a fair footing," the petition says.
"It has started to become evident that the aforementioned rivals being unable to compete with the complainant fairly in the industry have started to try and tarnish her reputation which would cause her loss of work and hence would open up greener pastures for her rivals in the industry," it adds.
The remark in question is linked to the Rs, 200 crore money laundering case being probed by central agencies, where conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar is the main accused.
Both the actors have been summoned by probe agencies, and Jacqueline is also named as an accused in the case after it was revealed that she received expensive gifts from the conman. Nora too received gifts from Sukesh.
On Dec 2, emerging from the Enforcement Directorate office after recording her statement, Nora had denied receiving any gifts from Sukesh.
Jacqueline had earlier in a plea before the Appellate Authority of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, or PMLA, clearly stated that it is surprising that like her some other celebrities like Nora and other celebrities who received gifts from Sukesh Chandrashekhar are made witnesses, she is sought to be dragged as an accused.
The ED in its supplementary chargesheet filed in the extortion case against conman Sukesh in a Delhi Court has mentioned Jacqueline Fernandez's name as an accused.
Earlier on Monday, Jacqueline appeared in Delhi's Patiala House Court in connection with the case.
The court adjourned the matter for further hearing to December 20.
According to the ED, Sukesh was confronted with Jacqueline on Oct 20, 2021 where she revealed that he had arranged private jet trips and her hotel stay many times.
Statements of Nora Fatehi were recorded Sept 13, 2021 and Oct 14, 2021, where she said that she got a booking for a charity event and during the event, she was gifted a Gucci Bag and one iPhone by Sukesh's wife Leena Paulose, the probe agency had said.