Bombay High Court Directs Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra to Deposit ₹60 Crore for Consideration of Foreign Travel Plea

 The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband Raj Kundra to deposit ₹60 crore with the court registry if they wanted their plea to travel abroad to be considered. The direction came during the hearing of a petition filed by the couple challenging the look-out circulars (LOCs) issued against them by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police.

EOW’s Look-Out Circular and the ₹60.48-Crore Cheating Case

The case stems from a ₹60.48-crore cheating complaint linked to the couple’s now-defunct online retail venture, Best Deal TV Pvt. Ltd. The EOW had issued look-out circulars on September 5, 2025, preventing Shetty and Kundra from leaving India while the investigation was ongoing.

The LOCs were based on a complaint filed by Deepak Kothari, a city-based businessman and director of Lotus Capital Financial Services, who alleged that Shetty and Kundra had diverted investor funds for personal use between 2015 and 2023.

Arguments in the Bombay High Court

During the hearing, advocate Keral Mehta, appearing for the couple, submitted that Shilpa Shetty was required to attend a YouTube event in Los Angeles from October 21–24, followed by business visits to Colombo and the Maldives related to their hospitality ventures.

However, the division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Akhand sought proof of the event’s authenticity. When Mehta stated that the invitation had been made via a phone call and that a formal letter would be issued only after suspension of the LOC, the court asked him to provide the organisers’ contact number for verification.

The bench observed:

“We cannot permit leisure trips. Deposit the entire amount, then we will consider.”

The judges further directed the couple to submit a detailed affidavit by October 14, clarifying the business nature of the proposed trips and substantiating their claims.

Court to Hear Complainant Before Passing Orders

The bench stated that it would not pass any immediate orders and would first hear the complainant, Deepak Kothari, before deciding on the plea. Kothari’s FIR, registered at Juhu Police Station on August 13, 2025, alleged financial misconduct and breach of trust by Shetty and Kundra.

According to Kothari, Raj Kundra had initially sought a loan of ₹75 crore at 12% annual interest for Best Deal TV but later persuaded him to convert the loan into an investment, promising higher returns and fewer tax liabilities. Kothari transferred funds in instalments through 2015, but later discovered that the company was facing insolvency proceedings for allegedly defrauding another investor.

He further alleged that despite multiple requests, Kundra delayed repayment, citing financial distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings of the Investigation

Opposing the couple’s plea, advocate Yusuf Iqbal, representing the complainant, informed the court that the EOW investigation had uncovered that approximately ₹60 crore had disappeared within six months, suggesting large-scale fund diversion.

Iqbal added that substantial evidence had emerged linking the couple to the misappropriation of investor funds and reiterated that their foreign travel could jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

Previous Denial of Travel Request

Earlier, on October 1, the Bombay High Court had refused to permit the couple to travel to Phuket for a family trip, holding that it was not an appropriate stage to grant such relief.

The couple had also sought permission to travel between October 2–29 to Los Angeles, Colombo, and Maldives, and again between December 20, 2025, and January 6, 2026, to Dubai and London.

Raj Kundra’s Pending Criminal Proceedings

Raj Kundra continues to face scrutiny in another criminal case involving the creation and publication of pornographic content, for which he was arrested on July 19, 2021. In 2022, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated a money laundering investigation against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), linked to the alleged pornographic content business.

Kundra, however, has denied all allegations, calling them “baseless” and “politically motivated.”

Conclusion: Legal Hurdles Persist for the Couple

The Bombay High Court’s directive to deposit ₹60 crore underscores the seriousness of the allegations against Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra. While the couple maintains that their international trips are business-related, the court has made it clear that such requests will not be entertained unless they demonstrate bona fide intentions and secure financial accountability.

The matter will now be heard again after October 14, once the couple submits their affidavit and the complainant’s counsel presents his response.


Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

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