Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra Challenge Rs 60-Crore FIR in High Court

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra have approached the Bombay High Court, seeking to invalidate a Rs 60-crore cheating case lodged against them by the Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai Police. The pair is also asking the court to prevent police from initiating a chargesheet or taking any coercive measures while their case is under review.

Court Proceedings and Future Dates

The case was discussed on Monday with Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekar and Justice Gautam Ankhad presiding over the session. The court has ordered the couple to share their petition with the complainant, Deepak Kothari, and has set the next hearing for November 20.

Claims and Allegations

Kothari’s allegations state that from 2015 to 2023, the couple convinced him to invest Rs 60 crore into their venture, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, which he claims was misappropriated for personal use.

Defense by Shetty and Kundra

In their application, Shetty and Kundra contend that the FIR is grounded in falsehoods and was filed with a “malicious intention to extract money.” Shetty clarified her limited role in the company’s operations, asserting that her involvement was not extensive.

The couple contended that the issue is primarily civil and relates to a failed business agreement, citing unforeseen factors such as the demonetization in November 2016, which heavily impacted businesses relying on cash transactions, as key reasons for the company's downturn.

They have appealed to the Bombay High Court to annul the FIR and halt any police action until their case is adjudicated. The couple firmly stands by their statement that the financial losses were purely business-related, denying any intent of fraud or criminal activity.