Shilpa Shetty-Raj Kundra News: Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra have been denied permission to travel abroad by the Mumbai High Court, which stated it would only consider their plea after they deposit Rs 60 crore. The couple is embroiled in an alleged fraud case involving businessman Deepak Kothari.
The Allegations
A case was registered against Shetty and Kundra on August 14 at Juhu Police Station. Deepak Kothari lodged a complaint alleging that between 2015 and 2023, the couple induced him to invest approximately Rs 60 crore in their company, Best Deal TV Private Limited. Kothari claims this substantial amount was then used for their personal gain, constituting a significant breach of trust and financial fraud. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the police had previously recorded Kundra's statement and issued a lookout circular against both.
Court's Stance
During Wednesday's hearing, a bench of Chief Justice Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhead firmly rejected the couple's request for overseas travel. The court highlighted that they're accused in a serious case of fraud and forgery, making it difficult to grant permission for leisure travel. While their lawyer argued that only one trip to Phuket was for vacation and others were professional, the court requested invitation letters for these professional commitments.
Condition for Consideration
The High Court emphasized that the couple's cooperation in the investigation was why they hadn't been arrested, but this didn't exempt them from the severity of the charges. The bench unequivocally stated, "Deposit the entire Rs 60 crore amount, then we will consider the petition. " The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 14, giving the couple time to comply with the directive.
