Case registered against Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra for fraud of Rs 60 crore, EOW takes over investigation

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra are once again seen getting into legal trouble. A Mumbai businessman has filed an FIR against this high-profile couple accusing them of fraud of Rs 60.48 crore.

This case is directly related to an online shopping platform called Best Deal TV Private Limited, in which Shilpa and Raj were directors. On the complaint of the businessman, Mumbai Police has registered an FIR and now the matter has been handed over to the Economic Offenses Wing (EOW).

Financial fraud in the name of business?

Complainant Deepak Kothari, a businessman by profession, alleges that he had given a total of Rs 60.48 crore to Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra in the form of investment and loan in the company between the years 2015 and 2023. He had given this amount for the purpose of business expansion, but it is alleged that the couple used this fund for their personal expenses and did not give any return in return for the investment.

Contact through Rajesh Arya

According to Kothari, he met this couple in the year 2015 through agent Rajesh Arya. At that time Shilpa Shetty was the major shareholder in Best Deal TV and she had 87% stake in the company. Kothari claims that initially he was asked for a loan of ₹ 75 crore at an annual interest rate of 12%, but due to the high interest rate, it was given the form of co-investment.

Amount sent in installments, tax dispute became an issue

Kothari transferred an amount of ₹ 31.95 crore to the company for the first time in April 2015. However, due to technical difficulties related to tax, a second agreement was made in September. After this, between January 2015 and March 2016, Kothari sent an additional amount of ₹ 28.54 crore. This way the total investment became ₹ 60.48 crore, and he also paid stamp duty of ₹ 3.19 lakh.

Shilpa had given personal guarantee

The businessman claimed that Shilpa Shetty had given him a personal guarantee on this investment in April 2016. However, in September 2016 the same year, she resigned from the post of director of the company. According to Kothari, soon after this, a bankruptcy case of Rs 1.28 crore was also registered against the company, of which he was not given any prior information.

Demand for money ignored

Kothari says that he asked for his money back several times, but every time his request was ignored. Finally, he lodged an FIR against Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra at Juhu Police Station in Mumbai on serious charges like fraud, breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.

Now the Economic Offenses Branch is investigating
The investigation of this high-profile case has now been handed over to the Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police. According to officials, during the investigation, the accused can be called for questioning and the necessary documents will also be examined.

The names of Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra have come up in many controversies before, but this case is directly related to a big business investment and personal guarantee, due to which it is being considered even more serious. Now it remains to be seen what new turn comes in this case after the investigation of EOW.