Rs 60 crore cheating case: Bombay HC asks Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra to deposit ‘entire money’ to consider foreign travel plea
Earlier, the Bombay High Court refused to grant interim relief to actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra when they sought to travel to Thailand for a family trip.
Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra will have to deposit Rs 60 crore with the Bombay High Court if they want to travel abroad (File photo).
The Bombay High Court Wednesday asked actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra to deposit Rs 60 crore before pursuing their plea to travel to the US and other countries.
The bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam A Ankhad was hearing the couple’s interim application in a plea challenging the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them in connection with the probe by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Maharashtra Police in a Rs 60 crore cheating case. The LOC restricts their travels abroad.
The latest plea referred to their upcoming international travel plans, including a work trip to Los Angeles between October 21 and 24, and a trip to the Maldives and Colombo between October 26 and 26 for the expansion of Hotel Bastian, their hospitality venture.
The application also seeks permission to visit London and Dubai between December 20, 2025, and January 6, 2026, to meet Kundra’s parents.
Advocate Keral Mehta, appearing for the couple, told the high court on Wednesday that while their “leisure family trip” to Thailand was not possible, Shetty has to travel to Los Angeles for an event organised by YouTube from October 21 to 24 followed by other foreign trips for the couple. The lawyer also said that the applicants were issued a summons by the investigating agency and had cooperated with the probe.
“That’s the reason you are not arrested. That’s all… Person is under investigation… We can’t permit you for this purpose. We cannot permit anything for a leisure trip,” CJ Chandrashekhar responded orally.
The couple’s lawyer said that the US and Colombo trips were not meant to be for leisure and Shetty will give confirmation to the organisers, subject to the permission granted by the high court.
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When the court sought to know details of the communication by the organisers, the lawyer responded that a phone call took place between her client and the organisers. “Who will verify the phone calls? Give the numbers, then they (agency) will verify,” the high court responded.
The counsel said the applicants will submit an affidavit with the concerned phone numbers and all other details related to the event and the travel. The court then asked the applicants about the allegation against them, and was informed that there was a cheating case to the tune of Rs 60 crore against the couple.
“Deposit the entire money. Then we will consider it, subject to their (EOW and complainant) arguments,” the high court told the couple’s lawyer. After the counsel sought to take instructions from her clients, the high court posted further hearing on the plea to October 14.
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.
Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:
Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:
Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).
Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).
Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.
Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.
Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.
Omkar Gokhale's consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. ... Read More
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