Mumbai: The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is set to question Ekta Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, and Neha Dhupia in connection with the alleged Rs 60 crore fraud involving the defunct company Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd. Founded by actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra, Best Deal TV was touted as India’s first celebrity-driven teleshopping channel.
Businessman Deepak Kothari claims that he was defrauded of over Rs 60.4 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal related to the venture. Based on his complaint, the EOW initiated a probe into the financial dealings of Shetty and Kundra.
Reports suggest that the EOW will soon request details from the three celebrities regarding payments made for promoting Best Deal TV. “We will inquire about the payments they received and investigate any irregularities in these transactions,” a source confirmed.
The EOW is also reviewing the promotional content aired on the channel, specifically the shows involving Kapoor, Basu, and Dhupia. Raj Kundra has reportedly informed investigators that CDs and hard drives containing relevant data were previously seized during a separate investigation.
As the case develops, it remains to be seen how these prominent figures will be linked to the alleged fraud. The investigation could have significant implications for the responsibilities of celebrities in endorsing business ventures.
