Shilpa Shetty-Raj Kundra move HC to quash ₹60cr fraud case
What's the story
Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, have approached the Bombay High Court to quash a ₹60 crore cheating case against them. The couple has also requested the court to stop police from filing a chargesheet in this case and refrain from taking any coercive measures until their pleas are heard. The hearing of their pleas was held on Monday before Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekar and Justice Gautam Ankhad.
Legal proceedings
Court directs couple to share copy of petitions with complainant
The court has instructed the couple to share a copy of their petitions with the complainant, Deepak Kothari. The matter has been scheduled for a hearing on November 20. Kothari had filed a complaint against the couple, accusing them of inducing him to invest ₹60.48 crore in their company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, between 2015 and 2023. He alleged that this amount was misused for their personal benefit.
Defense strategy
FIR was filed based on 'false and distorted facts': Shetty-Kundra
In their pleas, Shetty and Kundra claimed that the FIR was filed based on a "false and distorted set of facts." They alleged it has been "maliciously filed with an ulterior and malafide motive to extort money." Shetty further stated she wasn't involved in the day-to-day operations of Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd and was only associated with it for a limited time.
Dispute details
Entire dispute is of civil and contractual nature: Couple
The couple clarified that the entire dispute is of a "civil and contractual nature," stemming from a failed business venture and investment loss. They stated that the downfall of their company was due to unforeseen economic circumstances, especially demonetization in November 2016, which affected cash-based businesses. The losses incurred were simply business losses and not a result of any fraudulent design or criminal conspiracy.