Actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, are facing new legal challenges. The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has included cheating charges in an alleged Rs 60 crore fraud case against the couple. This legal action stems from a complaint lodged by Mumbai-based businessman Deepak Kothari.
Kothari asserts he was cheated in a loan and investment agreement related to Best Deal TV Private Limited, a company previously owned by Shetty and Kundra that is now defunct. According to Kothari’s legal representatives, the EOW’s investigation uncovered sufficient evidence to justify the addition of cheating charges under the Indian Penal Code.
Kothari’s lawyers also plan to approach the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Their goal is to initiate proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This would involve identifying, tracing, and potentially attaching assets believed to be linked to the alleged proceeds of the crime.
The initial case was registered on August 14. Kothari’s complaint details that he was allegedly persuaded to invest nearly Rs 60 crore in Best Deal TV between 2015 and 2023. He claims these funds, which were designated for business operations, were instead diverted for personal use. These specific allegations form the basis for the cheating charge now added to the First Information Report.
During the investigation, Raj Kundra reportedly stated that a portion of the invested money was paid as professional fees to actors Bipasha Basu and Neha Dhupia. He has also maintained that Best Deal TV, a venture that traded in electrical and household appliances, suffered significant financial setbacks following demonetisation in 2016. These losses, he explained, led to severe financial distress and made it impossible to repay the invested amount.
Soon after news of the additional charges spread, Shilpa Shetty released a statement via her social media channels. She firmly denied all allegations, labeling them as “baseless and motivated.” The actress stated that the ongoing dispute is being given a criminal interpretation without proper legal justification.
Shetty confirmed that a quashing petition has already been filed with the High Court and is currently awaiting a decision. She also conveyed that both she and her husband have fully cooperated with the investigation. Expressing confidence in the judicial process, she requested that the media avoid speculation, as the matter remains sub judice.
