Shilpa Shetty Denied Travel Permission Amid Fraud Case
Actor and entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty has been denied permission by the Bombay High Court to travel abroad following her request to attend a YouTube event in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The court ruled that Shetty must first clear Rs 60 crore in alleged fraud dues before her plea to travel can be reconsidered.
The case, which continues to draw significant attention, revolves around accusations that Shetty and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, misused investments worth Rs 60 crore made by industrialist Deepak Kothari in their now-defunct company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd. The couple has been under investigation by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police, which issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) preventing them from leaving India without official approval.
Court Maintains Strict Stand on Travel Restrictions
During Wednesday’s hearing, the Bombay High Court refused to grant Shetty’s travel request, emphasizing that serious financial allegations remain unresolved. The court noted that the LOC against Shetty and Kundra remains in force and cannot be lifted without a substantive resolution of the case or clearance from the investigating agency.
Shetty’s legal counsel argued that the actor was invited to participate in a professional event organized by YouTube, scheduled between October 25 and 29 in Colombo. However, when questioned by the court about formal documentation, the lawyer admitted that only verbal communication had taken place and that a written invitation would be issued after travel permission was approved.
This lack of official documentation further weakened the actor’s plea. The court held that the request lacked sufficient grounds and reaffirmed that both Shetty and Kundra must settle the Rs 60 crore dues related to the ongoing fraud case before seeking any travel privileges. The next hearing in the matter has been set for October 14.
Repeat Denial After Earlier Rejection for Family Vacation
This decision marks the second consecutive denial of an international travel request by the Bombay High Court in less than a week. Earlier, the court had dismissed a similar plea filed by the couple to travel to Phuket, Thailand, for a family vacation.
At that time, the court had cited the ongoing investigation and the seriousness of the allegations as reasons for rejecting the petition. It also refused to stay the Lookout Circular issued by the EOW, which continues to restrict the couple’s overseas movement.
Allegations of Misusing Investor Funds
The case stems from a complaint filed by businessman Deepak Kothari, who accused Shetty and Kundra of persuading him to invest Rs 60 crore in their television venture, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd. Kothari alleged that the funds were diverted for personal use rather than for the company’s growth and operations.
According to the complaint, the couple failed to deliver on business promises and used the money to cover luxury expenses. Raj Kundra has already appeared before the EOW for questioning, while Shetty has maintained that she was not directly involved in the company’s financial dealings.
Best Deal TV, launched in 2015, was a celebrity-endorsed teleshopping platform that also featured actor Akshay Kumar as one of its promoters. The company aimed to capitalize on celebrity branding to boost sales of lifestyle and consumer products but shut down operations within a few years due to mounting financial issues.
Legal Troubles Continue for the Couple
This development adds to the series of legal challenges faced by the Shetty-Kundra family in recent years. Raj Kundra has been under scrutiny in multiple cases, including a high-profile investigation related to the production of adult content. While he has denied all charges, these legal entanglements have consistently placed the couple under public and judicial attention.
The Bombay High Court’s latest ruling underscores a strict judicial stance on financial accountability and compliance. The court made it clear that until the pending financial obligations are addressed, Shetty and Kundra will not be allowed to travel abroad for either personal or professional reasons.
With the next hearing slated for October 14, the couple’s legal team will likely attempt to present new arguments or financial assurances to seek temporary relief. However, until a settlement or court-directed payment is made, the restriction on international travel remains firmly in place.
