High Court stops Shilpa Shetty-Raj Kundra from leaving India, says 'deposit ₹60 crore first'

The Bombay High Court has directed actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra to first deposit ₹60 crore if they wish to travel abroad. The court denied their request to suspend the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them and refused permission to travel to Los Angeles or any other foreign destination.

The order came after the couple filed a plea seeking to quash the LOC issued in connection with an alleged ₹60 crore fraud case. The court has adjourned the matter for further hearing on October 14.

The case stems from a complaint by Mumbai-based businessman Deepak Kothari, who alleged that between 2015 and 2023, the couple misused funds he provided for their company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd. Kothari claimed that Shetty and Kundra initially sought a ₹75 crore loan for their business but later asked him to treat it as an investment, assuring him of monthly returns. He transferred around ₹60 crore, which he says was never repaid.

Following a preliminary probe, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) found that the funds were misappropriated. A case was filed under IPC sections 403, 406, and 34. Shilpa and Raj’s lawyer has denied all allegations, stating that the couple will present their version before investigators.