Cinema VinesDelhi’s Rouse Avenue Court heard actress Nora Fatehi on Wednesday as a prosecution witness in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) case against businessman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. The court had summoned her twice, and when she initially requested an exemption, the judge expressed displeasure, warning her not to “take the court for granted.”
During her deposition, Fatehi recounted that she had been hired to perform at a charity event in Chennai in December 2020 but never received payment. The defence, however, has challenged this version, citing earlier statements she made to investigators about a luxury handbag, a phone and a BMW allegedly connected to the same event. These allegations have yet to be examined through cross‑examination and will be raised in the upcoming proceedings.
Advocate Anant Malik, representing Chandrashekhar, stressed that a summons does not equate to innocence or a free pass to ignore court time. He warned that if evidence later shows Fatehi’s involvement went beyond what she admits, the court could pursue action under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows a trial court to prosecute a witness if the evidence indicates wrongdoing.
Fatehi’s legal team maintains that her appearance is strictly as a witness and that she has full faith in the judicial process. The defence, meanwhile, will rely on documents and evidence to test her testimony during cross‑examination, asserting that every witness, celebrity or not, stands equal before the law.
