Conman Sukesh Also Targeted Sara Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor & Bhumi Pednekar: Report

Mumbai: Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi apart, conman Sukesh Chandrashekar had targeted three other Bollywood actresses.

According to an India Today report, Enforcement Directorate’s investigation revealed that Sukesh reached out to Sara Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar by sending them lavish gifts or cash using extortion money.

Sukesh approached Sara in May 2021, sending her a text message as Suraj Reddy. Sukesh reportedly told the Kedarnath actress that he would like to gift her a car.

Sara was questioned by ED officials regarding the approach and she told the agency that she had refused the extravagant gifts. She, however, agreed to receive a box of chocolates from Sukesh, who also sent her a luxury watch.

Janhvi, the report said, was approached through Sukesh’s wife Leena Maria Paul, who apparently posed as owner of a salon and invited the actress to inaugurate it.

Sridevi’s daughter inaugurated the salon last July in Bengaluru and was reportedly paid Rs 18.94 lakh as professional fees. She also received a Christian Dior bag.

In case of Bhumi, Sukesh’s associate Pinky Irani contacted her pretending to be Vice-President HR of News Express Post in January 2021. Pinky told Bhumi that her company’s chairman Mr Suraj aka Sukesh Chandrashekhar was a fan of hers and wanted to gift her a car.

Bhumi informed the ED that she did not take any gifts from Sukesh or his associates.

The 32-year-old Sukesh, currently in Tihar Jail, allegedly extorted Rs 215 crore from Aditi Singh, wife of Ranbaxy owner.