**Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra Face Legal Action Over Alleged Fraud**
A legal case has been initiated against Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, her husband Raj Kundra, and another individual, for allegedly defrauding a Mumbai businessman of over ₹60 crore. The accusations are tied to a transaction involving the couple’s now-defunct company, Best Deal TV Pvt. Ltd.
The complaint was filed by businessman Deepak Kothari, who claims that between 2015 and 2023, Shetty and Kundra conspired to cheat him out of the substantial sum. Kothari, who serves as the director of Lotus Capital Financial Services, stated that he was introduced to the couple by Rajesh Arya, who was also involved in the dealings. At the time, Shetty and Kundra held 87.6% of the shares in Best Deal TV, a home shopping and online retail platform.
According to Kothari, the couple initially requested a loan of ₹75 crore at an interest rate of 12%. However, they later convinced him to route the funds as an “investment” to minimize tax liabilities, assuring him of monthly returns and the repayment of the principal amount. Following these assurances, Kothari transferred ₹31.95 crore in April 2015 under a share subscription agreement, and an additional ₹28.53 crore under a supplementary agreement in September 2015. The total funds were reportedly deposited into Best Deal TV’s HDFC Bank accounts.
In September 2016, Shetty resigned as a director of Best Deal TV, and the following year, insolvency proceedings were initiated against the company for failing to meet its financial obligations. Kothari alleged that his repeated attempts to recover his investment through mediator Rajesh Arya were unsuccessful. Consequently, he filed a complaint, asserting that the couple “dishonestly used” his funds for personal gain.
The investigation into this case has been assigned to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) due to the significant amount involved, which exceeds ₹10 crore.
This latest development adds to the couple’s ongoing legal challenges. Earlier this year, they were accused of defrauding an investor in a gold scheme, with the complaint filed by Prithviraj Kothari, managing director of Riddhi Siddhi Bullions. Additionally, Kundra, who was previously arrested in 2021 in connection with an adult content case and later released on bail, is also under investigation for money laundering related to Bitcoin fraud.
**FAQ**
**What are the allegations against Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra?**
Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra are accused of defrauding businessman Deepak Kothari of over ₹60 crore through a fraudulent investment scheme linked to their former company, Best Deal TV Pvt. Ltd.
