After Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi, the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday revealed that conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar had targetted three more Bollywood actresses. Reportedly, the agency's probe has revealed Sara Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar's names linked to the case.
Sukesh allegedly used the extorted money to send them expensive gifts.
As per reports, the alleged conman targeted Sara Ali Khan in May 2021. He texted Sara on Whatsapp on May 21, 2021, introducing himself as Suraj Reddy. The conversation continued and Sukesh told the Atrangi Re actress that he would like to gift her a car as a friendly gesture.
He also mentioned that his CEO Mrs Irani had tried to contact her. Mrs Irani is an associate of Sukesh Chandrashekhar whose job was to convince actors to meet the conman. Pinky Irani is the one who introduced Sukesh to Jacqueline Fernandez.
Sara was questioned by ED officials regarding the gifts to which the actor told investigators that she constantly refused Sukesh's offer.
Sara also told the ED that after refusing Sukesh alias Suraj on multiple occasions, she agreed to receive a box of chocolates from him. Later, Sukesh sent her a Franck Muller watch along with the chocolates in a bid to befriend her, sources added.
As per reports, actor Janhvi Kapoor was also targeted by Sukesh through his wife Leena Maria Paul.
Leena Maria Paul approached Janhvi as the owner of a salon called Nail Artistry and invited her for the opening of a her salon in Bengaluru on July 19, 2021.
Unaware of Sukesh and Leena's backgrounds, Janhvi told ED that she inaugurated the salon in Bengaluru and received payment to the tune of Rs. 18.94 lakh as professional fees in her bank account.
Apart from money, she was gifted a Christian Dior tote bag by Leena's mother on the day of the event.
The actor submitted her bank account details before the ED along with her statement.
Actor Bhumi Pednekar was targeted by Sukesh's associate Pinky Irani, who approached Bhumi pretending to be the Vice President HR of News Express Post in January 2021.
Pinky told Bhumi that their group's chairman Mr Suraj (Sukesh Chandrasekhar) was a fan of hers and wanted to speak with her about a huge project. He also wanted to gift her a car, she told the actor.
In May 2021, Pinky Irani sent message to Bhumi saying Mr Suraj (Sukesh Chandrasekhar) is a billionaire and he wanted to gift her a car and he loves making gifts his friends.
The same day, Sukesh again contacted Bhumi and introduced himself as Suraj from NE Group.
Bhumi informed ED officials that she did not receive any gifts from Sukesh Chandrasekhar or Suraj or Shekhar or his any of his associates.
Sukesh Chandrashekhar, 32, is now in Delhi's Tihar Jail for allegedly extorting Rs 215 crore from Aditi Singh, the wife of the owner of Ranbaxy. Posing as an officer -- sometimes as Law Secretary, Home Secretary, representative of Home Minister Amit Shah, and representative of Prime Minister's Office -- he extorted Rs 215 crore from Aditi Singh on the pretext of helping her husband get out of jail.