Nora Fatehi tells court how she met Sukesh Chandrasekhar; says wife offered her car

Actor Nora Fatehi on Friday told a Delhi court that she was introduced to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar over a phone call arranged by his wife, Leena Paulose, following an event in Chennai in December 2020.

Fatehi appeared before Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Singh as a prosecution witness in the Rs 200-crore extortion case against Chandrasekhar. During her testimony, she explained how she first met Leena and how the latter introduced her to her husband.

The actor said she was questioned by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police during the investigation into the case, particularly about her interactions with Leena and Sukesh.

Recounting the events that led to their meeting, Fatehi told the court that she had been booked to attend a charity event in Chennai in December 2020. Leena was the organiser and had arranged for her appearance through an agency called Exceed Entertainment.

Fatehi said she met Leena for the first time at the event. While she was getting ready, members of the organising team informed her that Leena wanted to meet her along with some family members. Leena subsequently visited her room with two videographers and other people, carrying gifts.

According to Nora, Leena introduced herself as the owner of Nail Artistry Salon. She then told Fatehi that her husband wanted to speak to her and called him over the phone, putting the call on speaker.

During the conversation, Sukesh thanked the actor for attending the event, said that he and his family were fans of her work and expressed an interest in organising more events with her. Fatehi told the court that Leena also mentioned a car as a gift from her husband and that Sukesh encouraged her to accept it.

Fatehi said she subsequently left for the event with her team, where she appeared as the chief guest and judged a dance competition.

The actor also clarified the professional arrangements surrounding her Chennai visit. She told the court that she was a Canadian citizen and had been working in Indian films since 2014. At the time, her work was managed by T-Series, and bookings involving her services had to be made through her management company.

She further stated that she did not receive any performance fee for the Chennai event. However, the organisers covered her travel expenses, staff costs and the fees of her hair and make-up artist. Her team was also provided accommodation at a five-star hotel for one night.

The court has directed Fatehi to appear again on November 30 to continue her testimony. She had previously been summoned twice in connection with the case.

On November 6, her lawyer sought exemption from her appearance. The court, however, expressed displeasure over her absence and reminded her that she was appearing as a witness. It also cautioned her against taking the court's proceedings lightly.

The Rs 200-crore extortion case involves allegations against Sukesh Chandrasekhar, who is accused of cheating and extorting money from former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh's wife, Aditi Singh, while posing as a senior government official.

Agency inputs