Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said it would consider the petition of actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra to travel abroad only after they deposit ₹60 crore — the amount allegedly involved in a cheating case registered against them.
The couple is accused of duping Mumbai-based businessman Deepak Kothari of ₹60 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal linked to their company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd. The case was lodged at Juhu Police Station on August 14, 2025.
A division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad stated that it could not permit leisure trips when the accused face serious fraud allegations. “Deposit the entire amount of ₹60 crore, then we will consider the plea,” the bench observed, while scheduling the next hearing for October 14.
Shetty and Kundra had approached the High Court seeking suspension of the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police. Their plea requested permission to travel abroad for professional and personal reasons between October 2025 and January 2026.
During the hearing, the couple’s lawyer clarified that only one trip, to Phuket, was for leisure, while the rest were for professional engagements. The counsel added that both Shetty and Kundra have fully cooperated with the investigation and appeared for questioning.
The bench acknowledged their cooperation as the reason for their non-arrest but insisted on financial assurance before granting any travel relief. It also directed the couple to produce invitations or official communications related to their professional trips.
Earlier this week, the EOW recorded Shilpa Shetty’s statement at her Mumbai residence. She reportedly told investigators that she was not involved in the company’s daily operations. Raj Kundra’s statement was recorded earlier, and the LOC against both remains active.
The case centers around allegations that between 2015 and 2023, the couple persuaded Kothari to invest ₹60 crore in Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, but the funds were allegedly diverted for personal use.
