Nora Fatehi filed a defamation suit against Jacqueline Fernandez alleging that the latter had made defamatory allegations against Nora for “malicious reasons” in an attempt to destroy her career. Both actresses have been involved in the Enforcement Directorate’s investigation of conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar’s extortion case. Both Nora and Jacqueline have been questioned on separate occasions for their alleged involvement in the case and speculations that they received expensive gifts and favours from Sukesh Chandrasekhar. Nevertheless, Nora’s decision to file a defamation suit against Jacqueline, surprised a lot of people.

ETimes spoke to Jacqueline’s lawyer Prashant Patil who revealed that they haven’t yet received an official correspondence on the matter. Patil said, “Jacqueline has not made any statement in front of any electronic or print media against Nora or for that matter, any other person. She has consciously avoided talking about the Enforcement Directorate proceedings. Till date she has maintained the sanctity of law and because the matter is subjudice she has always avoided to speak in front of print and social media. Having said that, we have not received any official copy of the suit filed by Nora. Once we receive an official confirmation or an order of the Honourable Court, we will respond to it legally.”

Patil maintained that Jacqueline has never intended to defame or disrespect Nora. He explained, “My client has the utmost respect for Nora. There definitely has been some sort of miscommunication.” Provinding his legal opinion on the matter Patil said, “Quoting anybody’s reply, filed before an adjucating authority, is a matter of pure judicial proceeding. Any statement made during the course of arguments made before a judicial proceeding cannot be quoted in the public domain, the way it has been quoted now. My client has no intention to defame Nora or for that matter anybody else.”

Finally, Patil gave a firm rejoinder and said, “If Jacqueline is dragged to any legal Court, she will respond legally to protect her own dignity.”

ETimes tried reaching out to Jacqueline but she wasn’t available for comment. We did however speak to an industry source who was well acquainted with the case. The source revealed, “It’s shocking that Nora has filed a defamation suit against the media as well as Jacqueline. Giving a statement to competent authorities during an ongoing investigation is not defamation. It’s not as if Jacqueline has given media quotes and held a press conference in the matter. She has only cooperated in the official investigation and is fighting her case. Actually, since the case is an ongoing investigation, Jacqueline has maintained a dignified media silence on the issue.”