The Bombay High Court has asked Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, to deposit ₹60 crore while going abroad in relation to an ongoing fraud case. The court’s order was made at a time when the couple had approached it seeking permission to travel abroad for commercial and personal purposes, which was opposed by investors who had accused Kundra of defaulting on financial obligations pertaining to one of his businesses.
The petitioners, as per court filings, had lodged complaints stating that Kundra and his related companies had not remitted money collected under a business investment scheme. The investors stated that repayments were not made as promised repeatedly, prompting them to file legal action. The court granted cognizance of the case and directed that Kundra and Shetty, being directors and shareholders, need to first get the amount due to them before they can travel abroad.
Justice Manish Pitale at the time of the hearing pointed out that any right to travel abroad is open to reasonable restrictions, particularly where financial liabilities are involved. According to him, the order to deposit ₹60 crore is a protection measure to ensure the petitioners abide by their obligations according to law and do not go underground in case of prosecution. The court also directed that the sum be deposited within a given time period, in default of which their request for travel would be automatically rejected.
Raj Kundra, who has business interests in the entertainment and digital business industries, has been embroiled in several legal wars in the past few years. His investment in questionable investment schemes and digital content businesses have raised regulatory suspicions. Shilpa Shetty, although not charged with operational malfeasance directly, has also been made a co-respondent because she is a director on the company’s board and has financial interests tied to her husband’s business.
The couple’s lawyers contended that the allegations are hyperbolic and the condition of the deposit is “punitive and excessive.” They asserted that both Kundra and Shetty have also been fully compliant with investigation agencies and that the foreign journey was indispensable for professional and family obligations. The court, however, persisted in its stand while pointing out that investors’ complaints need to be addressed first before any overseas travel is allowed.
In the meantime, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) are still investigating the network of larger businesses associated with the couple. According to sources, authorities are scrutinizing bank records and investor contracts to track the money trail. The ₹60 crore deposit order is part of the court’s initiative to bring accountability in the case of high-profile financial suits surrounding celebrities.
Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra have not made an official statement after the ruling. However, people close to the family indicated that they will abide by the court’s ruling while also continuing to dispute the accusations.
The case highlights an increasing judicial focus on fiscal transparency and accountability among public personalities venturing into business activities. As the probe continues, the Bombay High Court ruling is a reminder that fame is no immunity against legal scrutiny — and that fiscal probity is always top of the agenda, even for Bollywood’s biggest stars.
