Jacqueline Fernandez withdraws plea for permission to go abroad, court says case at crucial stage

Fernandez had sought permission to visit Bahrain to see her mother.

Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez, accused in a money laundering case, on Thursday withdrew from a Delhi court her plea for permission to go abroad.

The actor told the court about her decision after the judge said the case was at a crucial stage and suggested that the question of charge should first be decided.

Fernandez had sought permission to visit Bahrain from December 23 to January 5 to see her mother.

“You want to meet your mother who suffered stroke in 2021? We all are emotional for our parents, but the case is at a crucial stage...You can withdraw the application and let the question of charge first be decided. Otherwise I will pass a judicial order,” Special Judge Shailendra Malik told Fernandez.

Thereafter, the actor had a discussion with her lawyers and informed the court that she was withdrawing her application “at this stage”.

During the brief arguments, the Enforcement Directorate opposed her plea, saying if she is allowed to go abroad she may not return.

“She is a foreign national. Though she has her career here, but she can make her career somewhere else (also),” the anti-money laundering agency said.