Shilpa Shetty to move Bombay High Court against 'Fake’ Rs 15 crore allegation', says lawyer

Shilpa Shetty

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has issued a strong rebuttal through her legal team after reports surfaced alleging that she received Rs 15 crore from her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, nearly a decade ago in connection with a financial transaction under investigation by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Mumbai.

She issued a statement via her lawyer and has categorically denied the reports, calling them 'totally fake and mischievous.' She also accused certain media outlets of deliberately doing misleading stories to malign her reputation.

In an official statement, the lawyer clarified that no such amount was ever received by Shilpa Shetty Kundra and that the allegations are defamatory in nature.

The statement further added that Shilpa Shetty intends to take legal action against those responsible for spreading the false claims.

"There are reports circulating in the print and electronic media that my client Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra had allegedly received an amount of Rs 15 crore from her husband Raj Kundra almost 10 years ago for a transaction which is allegedly investigated by Economic Offence Wing ( Mumbai ).

At the outset , we would like to state that , this piece of information is totally fake and mischievous intentionally planted in the public domain to defame my client .

We shall go to the root of mischief and adopt the due process of law to file criminal proceedings and civil damages against all the news articles circulated mischievously to defame my client.

No such amount was ever received by my client Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra and at this stage , we cannot reveal anything further as the matter is sub judice.

My Clients are however, compelled to initiate criminal and civil cases against all the fake media articles who have circulated the news without verifying the truth.

By intentionally defaming my client Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra, she is now compelled to seek protection of law enforcement agencies against such mischievous conduct of certain individuals.

We have always cooperated with the investigation agencies and shall always cooperate with the best of our ability. However, defamatory articles and news shall be dealt with strongly by adopting the procedure established by law as it infringes the Fundamental Rights of my client.

The legal team confirmed that Shilpa Shetty Kundra will move the Bombay High Court to seek relief and protection against what they termed as a sustained defamatory campaign by certain media organisations.

"My clients are moving the Honourable Bombay High Court for seeking relief against the defamatory campaign adopted by certain media outlets against my client Mrs Shilpa shetty Kundra. For all the articles Whomsoever have published online news about fake stories and unverified facts shall face the consequences for their actions in the court of law."

Latest development in Rs 60 cr case 

Mumbai police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Thursday recorded the statement of resolution professional Rajendra Bhutada in connection with the Rs 60 crore cheating case involving businessman Raj Kundra and his actor wife Shilpa Shetty, an official said.

Bhutada was called at the EOW office as a witness in the case, he added.

"His statement was recorded. Bhutada was the resolution professional of the liquidated company Best Deal TV Private Limited," the official informed.

Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty were directors of Best Deal TV Private Limited, a home shopping and online retail platform.

A case was registered against the couple at Juhu police station on August 14 for allegedly duping businessman Deepak Kothari (60) of nearly Rs 60 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal.

The EOW had earlier recorded Raj Kundra's statement as part of its probe.