Actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband, entrepreneur Raj Kundra, have been booked on cheating charges in connection with an alleged Rs 60 crore financial fraud case. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police added the charge after a complaint was lodged by businessman Deepak Kothari, officials confirmed. Investigators said material gathered so far supports the inclusion of the cheating charge, which could broaden the scope of the ongoing probe.
The case is linked to Best Deal TV Private Limited, a now-defunct home shopping and e-commerce company in which both Shetty and Kundra served as directors. According to the complaint, Kothari was allegedly misled into entering a loan-cum-investment arrangement with the company, resulting in substantial financial losses.
Kothari’s legal team has stated that the complainant is considering approaching the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to trace the alleged proceeds of the offence. They further indicated that a plea may be filed seeking attachment of properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), should the investigation reveal financial irregularities warranting such action.
Reacting to the developments, Shilpa Shetty issued a statement via her Instagram story, firmly denying all allegations. The actress described the claims as “baseless” and asserted that what is essentially a commercial dispute is being wrongly portrayed as a criminal case without sufficient legal grounds.
Shetty also revealed that a petition seeking to quash the FIR has already been filed in the High Court and is currently under consideration. Emphasising her faith in the judicial system, she said that both she and her husband have fully cooperated with the authorities throughout the investigation. The actor also urged the media to exercise restraint, noting that the matter is sub judice.
The FIR in the case was registered in Mumbai on August 14. Kothari has alleged that between 2015 and 2023, he invested close to Rs 60 crore in Best Deal TV Private Limited after being assured of returns. He further claimed that the funds were not utilised for legitimate business operations and were instead diverted for personal use.
During questioning, Raj Kundra reportedly stated that a portion of the funds was paid as professional fees to actors Bipasha Basu and Neha Dhupia. In an earlier clarification, Kundra had maintained that Best Deal TV dealt in electrical and household appliances but suffered significant losses following the 2016 demonetisation, which severely impacted the company’s cash flow and ability to repay debts.
The EOW continues to examine financial records and statements related to the case. Officials said the investigation is ongoing, and further action will depend on the findings that emerge in the coming weeks.