Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra's legal representative has firmly denied circulating reports of an Income Tax department raid at her Mumbai home. The clarification comes amidst an ongoing investigation into a significant fraud case involving Shetty and her businessman husband, Raj Kundra, which is reportedly worth Rs 60 crore.
Legal Counsel Issues Strong Denial
Advocate Prashant Patil, representing Shilpa Shetty, released an official statement to counter the claims of a raid. He asserted that the interaction with tax officials was a standard procedure and not an enforcement action linked to any case. "On behalf of my client Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra I can confirm that there is no Income Tax 'Raid' of whatsoever nature against my client," Patil stated. He described the visit as a "routine verification" pertaining to follow-up matters.
Patil also issued a stern warning against the spread of misinformation, connecting these developments to the separate fraud case. He emphasized that anyone falsely linking the tax verification to the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) probe would face legal consequences. "At the cost of repetition, my client Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra states that there is no income tax 'RAID' at her place," he reiterated.
Details of the Rs 60 Crore Fraud Case
The backdrop to this controversy is a serious financial complaint filed against the celebrity couple. Businessman Deepak Kothari, a director at Lotus Capital Financial Services Ltd, has accused Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra of cheating him in a combined loan and investment deal valued at Rs 60 crore.
Based on this complaint, the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) registered an FIR on Wednesday. The case was initially filed under IPC Section 406 (criminal breach of trust), and after preliminary investigation, Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) was added. An official confirmed that the EOW's initial inquiry found material evidence supporting the allegations.
Both Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty have had their statements recorded by the investigating team. The case is being tried under the Indian Penal Code as the alleged incidents occurred before the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) came into effect.
Celebrity Couple's Public Response
Raj Kundra has publicly rejected the fraud allegations, labeling them as baseless and motivated. In a post on social media platform X, he stated that a quashing petition was already pending before the Hon'ble High Court. "We categorically deny the baseless and motivated allegations being circulated," he wrote, expressing faith in the judiciary and urging media restraint as the matter is sub judice.
Shilpa Shetty also released a separate statement, expressing distress over her name being linked to the case. She clarified that her association with the concerned company was strictly non-executive. "I had endorsed certain products for the home shopping channel, in a professional capacity, for which payments due to me remain outstanding," she revealed. Shetty highlighted the unjust impact on her reputation and dignity, calling the allegations unwarranted.
The speculation about an Income Tax raid gained traction shortly after a separate incident where Bengaluru police booked two pubs, including Bastian Garden City which is co-owned by Shilpa Shetty, for allegedly operating beyond permitted hours following a late-night altercation.
