Actress Shilpa Shetty on Thursday, December 18, said she was unfairly named in an alleged ₹60 crore fraud case and that she was “deeply saddened” by the “baseless attempt” to link her to the case while investigations continue.
In a statement released by her team, Shetty was quoted by news agency ANI as saying she was “deeply saddened” by what it described as a “baseless attempt” to link her to the case.
What is it against Shilpa Shetty?
The case relates to a police complaint lodged against Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra for allegedly duping a businessman. ₹60.4 million crowns.
It was alleged that Best Deal TV, run by the Shetty-Kundra duo, received the loan, which was portrayed as an investment.
Businessman Deepak Kothari filed a complaint against the couple alleging that the actress and her husband sought funds for their company Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd on the pretext of business expansion but misused the money for personal purposes.
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Kothari claimed that the transactions took place between 2015 and 2023 and that attempts to recover the money failed.
‘I am deeply saddened’
Shilpa Shetty clarified that her association with the company was strictly non-executive, with no involvement in its day-to-day operations, finances or decision-making.
Shetty reportedly said she was unfairly implicated in the matter, claiming her role in the company concerned was limited and dysfunctional.
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“I am deeply saddened by the baseless attempt to associate my name with this matter. My association with the company was strictly non-executive, with no role in its operations, finances, decision-making or any signing authority,” the statement read, according to ANI.
Her statement clarified: “…like several other public figures, I have, as a professional endorsement, endorsed certain products for the home shopping channel for which I remain unpaid.”
The family almost borrowed ₹20 million
Shilpa Shetty claimed that her family had lent a substantial amount to the company, adding that almost ₹20 crore was given as a loan and that this amount remains “outstanding”.
“I almost want to record it ₹We as a family have lent 20 million to the company and the said amount remains unpaid,” she said.
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“The prejudicial attempt to hold me criminally liable, especially after an inexplicable delay of nearly nine years, is legally unsustainable and contrary to settled legal principles,” she added.
‘Woman’s dignity trampled’
Shilpa Shetty said, “Despite these facts, my name continues to be unnecessarily dragged into the proceedings, which is disturbing and unwarranted.”
“Such baseless allegations not only distort the facts but also result in the dignity, integrity and reputation of a woman being unfairly trampled in the public domain,” the statement further said.
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“In view of the quashing application already filed in the Bombay High Court, I have full faith in the judicial process and will seek appropriate legal remedies to protect my rights and reputation,” the statement added.
Shetty urged the media to report responsibly and verify facts before publishing, adding, “I respectfully request the media to take note of these facts and report responsibly by verifying the truth of the facts.”
Raj Kundra denies the allegations
Shilpa Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra also denied the allegations. Earlier, in a post on his X handle, Kundra called the allegations “baseless and motivated” and said the issues were given a criminal color without any legal basis.
“We categorically deny that baseless and motivated allegations are being spread. The issues we have tried to raise are being labeled as criminal without any legal basis.”
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“A quashing petition has already been filed in the Hon’ble High Court and is awaiting judgment. As we have fully cooperated with the investigation, we believe that justice will prevail and have full confidence in the law enforcement agencies and the Indian judiciary. We respectfully request the media to exercise restraint as this is a sub-judicial proceeding,” the tweet further read.
For those who didn’t know, in August a case was filed against Shilpa Shetty, her husband Raji Kundra and another person for allegedly cheating a businessman of over ₹60 million crowns.
The complaint, filed by businessman Deepak Kothari, director of Lotus Capital Financial Services Ltd, alleges that the incidents took place between 2015 and 2023. Kothari alleged that the couple took the money on the pretext of expanding their business, but instead used it for personal expenses.
