Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra move Bombay HC to quash Rs 60 crore cheating case; next hearing for November 20

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband Raj Kundra have approached the Bombay High Court to dismiss a Rs 60-crore cheating case filed against them by Mumbai police's economic offences wing. The couple is also requesting the court to prevent police from filing a chargesheet and taking coercive action against them while their pleas are being heard.The case was heard on Monday by a bench comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekar and Justice Gautam Ankhad. The court has instructed the couple to provide their petition copies to the complainant Deepak Kothari and scheduled the next hearing for November 20, according to news agency PTI.

Kothari's complaint alleges that between 2015 and 2023, the couple convinced him to invest Rs 60 crore in their company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, but used the funds for personal benefits.In their defense, the couple claims "the FIR was lodged based on a false and distorted set of facts, and it has been maliciously filed with an ulterior and malafide motive to extort money."Shetty separately stated she had minimal involvement in the company's daily operations and was associated with it for a limited time.

The couple maintains that the dispute is of civil and contractual nature, stemming from a failed business venture and investment loss."The collapse of the company was due to unforeseen economic circumstances, particularly demonetisation in November 2016, which severely impacted cash-based business," their pleas stated.They further argued that the losses incurred were purely business-related and not due to any fraudulent activities or criminal conspiracy.The couple has requested the court to quash the FIR and prevent the police from filing a chargesheet or taking any coercive action against them while their pleas are being considered.