Shilpa Shetty’s Lookout Notice Denied in Raj Kundra Case

Mumbai: Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty’s attempt to lift a lookout notice in connection with a Rs60-crore fraud case involving her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, was rejected by the Bombay High Court on Monday.

Shetty approached the court claiming she was only a nominal director in Kundra’s now-defunct company, Best Deal TV Private Limited, and had no active role in its operations. However, the division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad dismissed her plea, emphasizing that repayment of the allegedly defrauded amount is a prerequisite for any relief.

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“If you wish to travel abroad, first become a government witness,” the bench remarked, underlining the court’s firm stance on the case. The judges have also directed Shetty to file a written affidavit by October 16 detailing her connection with the company. They added that Raj Kundra should also provide an affidavit confirming Shetty’s non-involvement.

The dispute originates from a complaint by businessman Deepak Kothari, who alleges that loans and investments worth approximately Rs60 crore, made in Best Deal TV between 2015 and 2023, were misused for personal gains. Kundra defended himself, stating that the company suffered severe losses post-demonetisation, which prevented repayment of the loans.

Both Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra have cooperated with authorities so far. Shetty was questioned at her residence for over four hours on October 4, while Kundra has appeared before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) twice. Despite their cooperation, the court made it clear that no travel or further relief will be allowed until the full Rs60 crore is repaid to the complainant.

This ruling reinforces the judiciary’s focus on financial accountability in high-profile cases and highlights the limits on the mobility of individuals involved in ongoing investigations.