In a significant development on June 11, 2026, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra of the Supreme Court of India recused himself from hearing actor Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea in the ₹200 crore money laundering case linked to conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
The judge cited a direct conflict of interest — his son had appeared for the government in a connected matter — making it impossible for him to continue on the bench, according to LiveLaw.
Background: How We Got Here
The case against Fernandez stems from allegations that Sukesh Chandrashekhar ran a large-scale extortion racket from prison, impersonating senior government officials to defraud victims of over ₹200 crore.
The Enforcement Directorate alleged Fernandez received gifts and financial benefits worth over ₹5.71 crore linked to proceeds of crime from Chandrashekhar’s network, per ANI.
- On July 3, 2025, the Delhi High Court refused to quash the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and the ED’s prosecution complaint, holding that questions of knowledge and intent must be determined at trial.
- On April 16, 2026, Fernandez withdrew her application to become an approver in the ED case. The ED had opposed it, citing her unsatisfactory conduct and failure to make full disclosure under Section 50 of the PMLA, according to Asianet Newsable.
- On May 30, 2026, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma of the Special PMLA Court at Patiala House found a prima facie case against Fernandez and ordered the framing of charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
- On June 3, 2026, charges were formally framed against Chandrashekhar, Fernandez, his wife Leena Maria Paul, and 14 others — including Pinky Irani and Deepak Ramnani. All accused pleaded not guilty and sought trial, as reported by NewsX and ProKerala.
Fernandez moved the Supreme Court via a Special Leave Petition, challenging the May 30, 2026 charge-framing order. The matter came up before a bench of Justices PK Mishra and Atul S. Chandurkar, per LiveLaw.
The Ruling — Key Findings
When the matter was called, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench he was appearing for the respondent, the Enforcement Directorate, according to LiveLaw and ANI.
Justice Mishra immediately flagged his conflict, stating on the record: “In one of the connected matters, my son appeared for the government side.”
He then made his position unambiguous, adding: “There is some difficulty; it will before some other bench.”
The bench formally directed: “Post it before the bench in which one of us is not a member.”
The bench of Justices Mishra and Chandurkar accordingly directed the matter to be listed before a different bench — one not including Justice Mishra — on June 25, 2026, as confirmed by LiveLaw Biz.
The matter is expected to first be placed before the Chief Justice of India for assignment to an appropriate bench before the June 25 listing.
Reactions & What’s Next
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was present in court representing the Enforcement Directorate at the time of the recusal. No objection to the recusal was reported by any party, according to LiveLaw and ANI.
Fernandez’s plea specifically challenges the May 30, 2026 order of ASJ Prashant Sharma at Patiala House Court, which found a prima facie case established by the ED’s material and directed charge-framing under PMLA Sections 3 and 4.
The next Supreme Court hearing is scheduled for June 25, 2026, before a reconstituted bench. Separately, the Patiala House Court is listed for further proceedings in the underlying trial on July 16, 2026, as reported by ProKerala.
Full coverage: LiveLaw. More legal news at The Courtroom.
Why did Justice PK Mishra recuse from the Jacqueline Fernandez ED case?
Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra recused himself because his son had appeared for the government side in a connected matter, creating a conflict of interest. He stated on record: “In one of the connected matters, my son appeared for the government side.” The matter was directed to be listed before a different bench on June 25, 2026.
What charges has Jacqueline Fernandez been framed with under the PMLA?
Charges were framed against Fernandez on June 3, 2026 under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by ASJ Prashant Sharma at the Special PMLA Court, Patiala House, New Delhi. She pleaded not guilty and sought trial. The ED alleged she received gifts worth over ₹5.71 crore linked to proceeds of crime from Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s extortion network.
What happened to Jacqueline Fernandez’s application to become an approver in the ED case?
Fernandez had applied to turn approver in the ED case, but withdrew that application on April 16, 2026. The ED had opposed it, citing her unsatisfactory conduct and failure to make full disclosure as required under Section 50 of the PMLA, according to Asianet Newsable and ProKerala.
When is the next hearing in the Jacqueline Fernandez Supreme Court case?
The Supreme Court bench directed the matter to be listed on June 25, 2026, before a bench not including Justice PK Mishra. The case is expected to first be placed before the Chief Justice of India for assignment to an appropriate bench. The trial court at Patiala House is separately listed on July 16, 2026.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change or vary by case — consult a qualified lawyer before acting. The Courtroom is not liable for any reliance on this content.
