Police grills Shilpa Shetty for 4 hours in 60 crore fraud case

Bollywood actor and entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty was subjected to an intensive interrogation by the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Monday in connection with a high-profile case of alleged financial fraud amounting to over ₹60 crore. The detailed session, which lasted more than four hours at her Mumbai residence, marks a significant escalation in the investigation targeting her and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, over their roles in the now-defunct home shopping company, Best Deal TV Private Limited. The investigation focuses on alleged financial misappropriation and criminal breach of trust, drawing immense public and media scrutiny to the celebrity couple’s business dealings.

The case originated from a complaint filed by Mumbai-based businessman Deepak Kothari, who is the director of Lotus Capital Financial Services. Kothari accused the couple of defrauding him of nearly ₹60 crore through a loan-cum-investment deal that spanned from 2015 to 2023. The complainant alleges that he was convinced to invest the substantial sum in Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, a company where Shetty and Kundra were directors, but the funds meant for business expansion were ultimately diverted for the couple’s personal use.

During the prolonged questioning session, EOW officials meticulously recorded Shilpa Shetty’s statement, seeking detailed clarification on the alleged financial transactions linked to her advertising company's bank accounts. In her defense, the actress reportedly informed the police that she was not actively involved in the day-to-day affairs of the liquidated company, claiming her association primarily involved receiving celebrity fees for promoting products on the platform.

To support her claims and cooperation with the probe, the actress submitted several documents to the investigating team. These records, which are now under strict police scrutiny, are expected to provide crucial insights into the movement of the large sum of money and help establish the actual financial trail and beneficiaries of the alleged misappropriated funds.

The EOW’s action follows the earlier issuance of a Lookout Circular (LOC) against both Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra, which the police issued citing their propensity for frequent overseas travel. Furthermore, this recent grilling comes on the heels of the EOW having already recorded Raj Kundra's statement in the same case last month, where he allegedly claimed that a portion of the funds in question was used to pay professional fees to various Bollywood personalities.