Shilpa Shetty’s hospitality venture is facing renewed scrutiny after Bengaluru police registered an FIR against the city’s Bastian outlet for alleged violations of operating norms.
The restaurant, located on St. Mark’s Road, is accused of staying open well past the legally permitted closing time, prompting a formal complaint and an investigation into its operations.
According to police officials, the FIR was filed at Cubbon Park Police Station after the establishment reportedly continued to operate until 1.30 am on December 11
Bengaluru enforces strict closing-time regulations for commercial establishments, particularly in central neighbourhoods, and any extension requires special permission. Investigators claim Bastian did not have approval to run late-night services, leading to cases being registered against the managers and staff present at the venue. Authorities are now examining whether this was an isolated incident or part of a pattern of violations.
The development comes at a time when the Bastian brand has been undergoing major changes. Earlier this year, rumours circulated that the flagship Bandra outlet in Mumbai was shutting down, raising concerns among patrons and fans of the popular restaurant chain. The speculation grew intense enough that Shilpa Shetty addressed it directly on social media. In a video message, she clarified that the restaurant was not closing but transitioning under a new concept. The Bandra location would be rebranded as Ammakai, a South Indian specialty space, while a new Bastian Beach Club would open in Juhu.
Shetty explained that the brand had always explored new food experiences and that expansion, not closure, was the goal. She acknowledged receiving numerous calls from worried patrons but urged people not to let their affection turn hostile. The actor-entrepreneur emphasised that Bastian’s evolution was part of a long-standing strategy to diversify offerings and refresh the brand’s identity.
However, the latest incident in Bengaluru now raises questions around operational oversight at a time when the chain is constantly in the public eye. The FIR has added another legal layer to a period already marked by controversy for the couple behind the brand.
Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra are currently under investigation in a separate case registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Mumbai. Businessman Deepak Kothari has accused the couple of cheating him of Rs 60.4 crore through a loan-cum-investment arrangement. He claims he invested money between 2015 and 2023 under the impression that it would be used for business expansion, but alleges that the funds were diverted towards personal expenses instead. The complaint names both Shilpa and Kundra, and the EOW is examining documents provided by the complainant to determine the flow of funds and extent of alleged misappropriation.
With two legal matters now unfolding in parallel, the actor’s business interests are facing sustained attention from regulators and investigators. For a brand as visible as Bastian, this is a sensitive moment, and how the situation is handled may shape the trajectory of its expansion plans in the months ahead.
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