Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, found themselves at the centre of media speculation on Thursday after reports surfaced of an Income-Tax department raid at their Mumbai residence. However, the actress and her legal team have issued a strong rebuttal, clarifying the situation and threatening legal action against those spreading misinformation.
No Raid, Only Routine Verification: Lawyer's Clarification
Advocate Prashant Patil, representing Shilpa Shetty, released an official statement to set the record straight. He categorically denied any raid by the Income-Tax authorities. Patil confirmed that there was no Income-Tax 'raid' of any nature against his client. Instead, he described the interaction as a standard, routine follow-up and verification procedure conducted by tax officials.
Patil went a step further by issuing a stern warning against attempts to connect this tax verification with any other ongoing investigation. He specifically mentioned the alleged Economic Offence Wing (EOW) case. The lawyer stated that anyone publicly and mischievously linking these developments to the EOW probe would face legal consequences in court. "At the cost of repetition, my client states that there is no Income-Tax 'raid' at her place," he firmly added.
Background: The ₹60 Crore Cheating Case Allegations
This clarification comes against the backdrop of a separate legal matter involving the couple. The Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing had registered a case following a complaint by Mumbai-based businessman Deepak Kothari. The complaint alleged a fraud and cheating amounting to approximately ₹60 crore.
Kothari claimed that between 2015 and 2023, he invested the substantial sum in Best Deal TV Pvt. Ltd., a company linked to Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra. He did so based on assurances of returns and repayment. The First Information Report (FIR) alleges that the funds were diverted and not returned despite repeated demands, leading to criminal charges.
Prior to the tax verification news, Shilpa Shetty had already addressed these allegations. She took to her Instagram Stories to share a detailed note, vehemently denying what she called "baseless and motivated allegations." She argued that a civil business dispute was being wrongly given a criminal colour. The actress revealed that a Quashing Petition had already been filed before the Bombay High Court and is pending adjudication.
She expressed full faith in the judicial system, stating her family had fully cooperated with the investigation. She also urged the media to exercise restraint as the matter is sub judice.
Legal Stance and Ongoing Proceedings
The couple's consistent stance has been that the financial dispute is civil in nature, stemming from a business failure and the subsequent insolvency proceedings of the involved company. They have denied any criminal intent. In related legal actions, the Bombay High Court has issued certain directions concerning travel restrictions for the individuals involved.
It is crucial to note that the investigation by the Economic Offences Wing is still ongoing, and no court has recorded a conviction in the matter. The recent Income-Tax verification, as clarified by the lawyer, is a distinct and routine procedure, not a raid connected to the EOW case.
The sequence of events highlights the sensitive intersection of celebrity life, business, and legal scrutiny. While Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra continue to assert their innocence and challenge the allegations legally, the developments underscore the importance of official clarifications in countering speculative media reports.
