Nora Fatehi appeared before Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday as a witness in the case against Sukesh Chandrashekhar. The case concerns the alleged extortion of Rs 200 crore from Aditi Singh. Sukesh and others are being tried under MCOCA. Nora said she was booked for a charity event organised by Leena Maria Paulose, where she met Leena in person and spoke to Sukesh on the phone for the first time.
Court records examination-in-chief
According to the ANI report, Special Judge (MCOCA) Gagandeep Singh recorded her examination-in-chief, which was led by Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Akhand Pratap Singh. The court has put off her further examination until November 30. Nora told the court she was asked about Leena Paulose and Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
Chennai event and first meeting with Leena Paulose
Nora Fatehi said she was booked for an event in Chennai in December 2020 through an agency called Exceed Entertainment. Leena was the organiser, and they met for the first time at the venue. As she was getting ready, her team told her that Leena and her family wanted to meet her. They then entered her room with two videographers, a few other people and some gifts.Describing the meeting, Nora said, “Leena Paulose introduced herself to me. Leena introduced herself as the owner of the Nail Artistry Salon. Pictures were also taken. Thereafter, Leena Paulose told me that her husband wanted to say ‘Hello’ to me and thank me for coming.”She continued, “After this, Leena Paulose called her husband and put the mobile phone on speaker, on which her husband told me, ‘Thank you for coming’.”During the call, Leena said she wanted to gift Nora a car, and her husband asked Nora to accept it.
Nora Fatehi says she received no fee
Nora Fatehi said, “After the end of the conversation, I, along with my team, went to the event. At the event, I appeared as a chief guest, where I judged the event.”She told the court she was not paid for the appearance, though her flight and her staff’s travel costs were covered. “T-Series at that point of time was my employer,” she said.
What is the Rs 200 crore extortion case ?
Nora Fatehi was summoned as a prosecution witness. The case alleges that Sukesh Chandrashekhar, while held at Delhi’s Rohini Jail, posed as senior government officials and took about Rs 200 crore from Aditi Singh, wife of former Ranbaxy promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh, in 2020-21. He allegedly promised to get her husband out of jail in return. The Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) probed the matter and filed a chargesheet under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Earlier questioning by EOW
Nora Fatehi was earlier questioned by the EOW about her alleged links with Sukesh and his wife Leena Maria Paulose. Police recorded her statement under Section 164 of the CrPC and later listed her as a prosecution witness in the supplementary chargesheet. She had told investigators that her contact with Sukesh was only through his wife, and she was also questioned about the Chennai event.
