Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra Denied Foreign Travel by Bombay HC Unless Rs 60 Crore Deposited

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband Raj Kundra have hit a major legal roadblock as the Bombay High Court firmly denied their request to travel abroad, stating they must first deposit Rs 60 crore—the amount allegedly involved in a fraud case against them. The court’s stern directive came on October 8, 2025, during a hearing where the celebrity couple sought suspension of the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued by Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW), which currently prevents them from leaving India.

The Court’s Uncompromising Stance

The division bench comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad made the court’s position crystal clear: “Deposit the entire amount of Rs 60 crore, then we will consider the plea.” This categorical statement effectively means that unless Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra make the substantial deposit, their request to travel internationally will not even be entertained by the court.

The hearing centered on the couple’s petition seeking temporary suspension of the LOC from October 2025 to January 2026, citing both professional commitments abroad and planned leisure trips. Shilpa Shetty’s lawyer specifically mentioned that the actress needed to travel to Colombo, Sri Lanka, for a YouTube event scheduled between October 25 and 29, 2025.

When asked about the formal invitation to the Colombo event, Shilpa Shetty’s lawyer explained that the invitation would only be issued once travel permission was granted. The court remained unimpressed by this explanation and reiterated that the couple must first clear the Rs 60 crore in fraud charges before any travel permissions could be considered. The matter has been posted for further hearing on October 14, 2025.

The Allegations: A Rs 60 Crore Fraud Case

The legal troubles surrounding Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra stem from a complaint filed by Mumbai-based businessman Deepak Kothari, aged 60 and director of Lotus Capital Financial Services. The case was registered at Juhu Police Station on August 14, 2025, following Kothari’s allegations that the celebrity couple duped him of Rs 60.48 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal.

According to Kothari’s complaint, his association with the couple began in 2015 through an intermediary named Rajesh Arya, who claimed to have connections with Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty’s business ventures. At that time, the couple was operating Best Deal TV Private Limited, an online platform dealing in lifestyle, fashion, health, beauty, and home products.

The complainant alleges that he was initially approached for a loan of Rs 75 crore at an annual interest rate of 12 percent. However, Kothari claims he was persuaded to restructure this as an investment to avoid high tax implications. He subsequently transferred the funds in two significant installments:

• Rs 31.95 crore in April 2015
• Rs 28.53 crore in September 2015

Both amounts were credited to Best Deal TV Private Limited’s HDFC bank accounts. Crucially, Kothari states that in April 2016, Shilpa Shetty personally guaranteed the repayment of the entire amount with 12 percent annual interest, making her personally liable beyond her corporate role in the company.

Best Deal TV: Rise and Fall

At the center of this controversy is Best Deal TV Private Limited, a company that was once positioned as a promising venture in the home shopping and e-commerce space. When Kothari made his investment in 2015, Shilpa Shetty held a commanding 87.61 percent equity stake in the company, while Raj Kundra served as a director. The company also had actor Akshay Kumar as a co-founder, though he is not named in the current legal proceedings.

However, the company’s trajectory took a sharp downturn. In September 2016—just months after allegedly providing a personal guarantee for the investment—Shilpa Shetty resigned as director without informing Kothari, according to his complaint. This resignation shocked the investor, who claims he was kept in the dark about the company’s deteriorating financial condition.

The situation worsened when Kothari discovered that Best Deal TV was facing insolvency proceedings worth Rs 1.28 crore, filed by a vendor named Aesthetique Solutions. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Mumbai admitted the insolvency case in May 2017, and despite various attempts to resolve the company’s financial issues over several years, it eventually went into liquidation.

Kothari alleges that the funds he provided for business expansion between 2015 and 2023 were instead misappropriated for the couple’s personal expenses. His repeated attempts to recover his investment through intermediary Rajesh Arya failed, leading him to file the criminal complaint with Mumbai Police.

Pattern of Denials: Not the First Rejection

The October 8 ruling marks the second time in just over a week that the Bombay High Court has denied Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra permission to travel abroad. On October 1, 2025, the court refused their request to visit Phuket, Thailand, for a family vacation scheduled between October 2 and 5.

During that earlier hearing, the public prosecutor argued that serious economic crimes had already been registered against the couple, with two cases still pending investigation. The prosecutor maintained that allowing them to travel abroad would not be appropriate given the gravity of the allegations and the ongoing investigation.

The couple’s lawyer attempted to distinguish between the various trips they wanted to undertake, arguing that while the Phuket trip was indeed for leisure, other planned international trips were strictly professional in nature. However, the court remained unconvinced, emphasizing that it could not permit leisure trips when the accused are facing serious allegations of cheating and fraud involving such a massive sum.

The Look Out Circular: What It Means

The Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra is a powerful legal instrument that has effectively grounded the couple in India. An LOC is an alert issued by immigration authorities to restrict the movement of an individual, preventing them from leaving the country without explicit permission from either the investigating agency or the court.

The Economic Offences Wing issued the LOC specifically citing the couple’s frequent international travel patterns. According to officials, both Shilpa Shetty—as a Bollywood actress with international commitments—and Raj Kundra—as a businessman with global operations—regularly travel abroad. The investigating agency determined that restricting their movement was necessary to ensure their availability for questioning and to prevent potential flight risk.

In their petition to the High Court, the couple argued that the LOC violates their fundamental rights. “The applicants have a fundamental right to carry on their business and/or profession and denying such opportunities (to travel abroad) would amount to violation of their fundamental rights,” their petition stated.

The petition further contended that Shilpa Shetty, being an actress, must go overseas to fulfill her professional commitments, while Raj Kundra, as a businessman, is required to travel abroad frequently for business operations. They requested suspension of the LOC specifically from October 2025 to January 2026 to allow them to undertake these overseas trips.

The Investigation Intensifies

As the legal battle over travel restrictions plays out in court, the Economic Offences Wing has been actively pursuing its investigation. On October 4, 2025, the EOW recorded Shilpa Shetty’s statement at her residence, questioning her for more than four hours. During this interrogation, the actress reportedly told investigators that she did not oversee the day-to-day functioning of Best Deal TV Private Limited, despite being a co-founder and holding the majority equity stake.

This defense strategy—claiming lack of involvement in operational matters—may prove challenging given that she held such a substantial equity position and allegedly provided a personal guarantee for the investment. The personal guarantee, if proven, would make her individually liable for the debt regardless of her level of day-to-day involvement in the company.

The EOW had previously recorded Raj Kundra’s statement as well and has been examining the company’s financial records, bank transactions, and communications between the parties involved. The investigating agency is working to establish whether the funds were indeed diverted for personal use as alleged, or whether they were legitimately used for business purposes.

Shilpa Shetty’s Response

Throughout this ordeal, Shilpa Shetty has maintained a relatively low public profile, choosing not to make detailed public statements about the case. However, sources close to the actress indicate that she is “fully cooperating” with investigators and responding to all summons.

Her legal team has issued statements denying the allegations. In response to earlier claims about fund transfers, her lawyer stated: “No such amount was ever received by Mrs. Shilpa Shetty Kundra. Since the matter is currently subjudice, we cannot reveal further details.”

The actress’s legal strategy appears focused on establishing that she was not involved in the financial management of Best Deal TV and that her resignation as director in September 2016 predates the bulk of the alleged misconduct. Her lawyers have also characterized some allegations as “fake and defamatory,” though they have been cautious about revealing specific details while the case remains under judicial consideration.

Raj Kundra’s Troubled History

This legal trouble adds to a growing list of controversies that have plagued Raj Kundra in recent years. The businessman has faced multiple investigations and allegations, most notably in connection with a pornography case that led to his arrest in July 2021. Though he was later granted bail, that case damaged his public image significantly.

Kundra has broken his silence on the current Rs 60 crore cheating case, stating: “Truth will come out…” in a social media post. However, he has refrained from providing detailed explanations while the legal proceedings continue.

The businessman’s various ventures have often attracted scrutiny, and the collapse of Best Deal TV is not his only failed business endeavor. The current case places both his business acumen and ethical practices under the microscope once again.

Professional and Personal Impact

The travel ban has created significant professional disruptions for both Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra. As an actress, brand ambassador, and fitness entrepreneur, Shilpa Shetty regularly attends international events, award shows, brand launches, and professional commitments that require overseas travel. The inability to travel abroad means lost opportunities, potential breach of contracts, and damage to her professional reputation.

Similarly, Raj Kundra’s business interests span multiple countries and sectors. His inability to travel for business meetings, deal negotiations, and operational oversight could have serious implications for his various ventures.

Beyond professional concerns, the couple’s personal life has also been affected. Their denied request to take a family vacation to Phuket, Thailand, underscores how the legal proceedings have curtailed even their personal freedom to travel for leisure with their children.

What Lies Ahead

As the next hearing approaches on October 14, 2025, several questions remain unanswered. Will Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra attempt to deposit the Rs 60 crore as demanded by the court? If so, where will these funds come from, and what would such a deposit signify—an admission of wrongdoing or simply a pragmatic step to regain travel freedom?

The court’s stern stance suggests that it views the allegations seriously and expects concrete accountability before granting any relief. The demand for a full deposit of the allegedly defrauded amount is unusual but demonstrates the judiciary’s concern about the couple potentially leaving the country while investigations continue.

For Deepak Kothari, the complainant, the court’s decision to bar the couple’s travel may provide some reassurance that the legal system is taking his allegations seriously. However, he still faces a long road toward potentially recovering his investment, whether through criminal proceedings, civil litigation, or negotiated settlement.

The case continues to unfold as investigators dig deeper into Best Deal TV’s financial records, examining bank statements, corporate documents, and communications to determine whether the allegations of fraud and misappropriation can be substantiated. The October 14 hearing will likely provide further clarity on the court’s expectations and the couple’s next legal moves.

The Broader Implications

This case serves as a cautionary tale about celebrity business ventures and the importance of transparency in handling investor funds. When public figures leverage their fame to attract investments, they assume not just business risk but also reputational risk that can have far-reaching consequences.

The use of Look Out Circulars in economic offenses cases has become increasingly common, reflecting the judiciary’s and investigating agencies’ concern about wealthy or well-connected individuals potentially fleeing the country to avoid prosecution. The Bombay High Court’s firm stance in this case—demanding full deposit of the disputed amount before even considering travel requests—signals a no-nonsense approach to alleged economic crimes, regardless of the celebrity status of those involved.

As Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra navigate these troubled legal waters, their case will likely be watched closely by other celebrities engaged in business ventures, investors considering celebrity-backed companies, and legal experts analyzing how courts handle cases involving prominent public figures accused of financial wrongdoing.

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