Shilpa Shetty & Raj Kundra Face Major ₹60 Crore Fraud Allegations: Another Chapter in a Saga of Legal Troubles

By Bollywood Pe Charcha Digital Bureau

Bollywood often dazzles with glamorous premieres and red carpet events, but at times, the industry’s biggest names end up making headlines for controversies rather than films. In recent years, few couples have found themselves under as much legal scrutiny as Shilpa Shetty and her husband, entrepreneur Raj Kundra. From sensational arrests to eye-popping allegations of financial wrongdoing, their journey has become a case study on how fame and fortune can attract both admiration and controversy.

Now, the high-profile couple is again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra have been accused of masterminding a fraud worth ₹60 crore. Mumbai Police have launched an extensive investigation, and the nation’s eyes are fixed on the courtroom drama looming over this star duo.

The Plot Thickens: Allegations by a Prominent Businessman

The latest chapter in Shilpa and Raj’s legal woes opened when businessman Deepak Kothari filed an official complaint against the couple. According to Kothari, between 2015 and 2023, Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra conspired to defraud him of a staggering sum—₹60 crore (around $7.2 million).

Kothari’s complaint outlines a sophisticated scheme: in the beginning, the star couple allegedly approached Kothari, requesting a loan of ₹75 crore at 12% annual interest to fund their business ventures. Later, to help them avoid higher tax liabilities, Kothari claims he was persuaded to “invest” the money, with the assurance that both his principal and all returns would be paid back in convenient monthly installments.

Business History: A Downward Spiral

Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra are both known for their business ambitions. Years ago, the couple launched a TV channel together—Best Deal TV—a once-hyped shopping network. However, Shilpa resigned from her director position in 2016, as the company’s fortunes began to fall. By the following year, financial irregularities led to bankruptcy proceedings against the company.

Kothari claims the money he lent to Shilpa and Raj was funneled not into legitimate business initiatives, but into personal expenses and profit-making ventures for the couple themselves. This, he alleges, constitutes willful fraud.

The Anatomy of the Alleged Scam

According to Kothari’s detailed account, Shilpa and Raj’s plea for a loan seemed legitimate initially. Business plans were shown, financial projections laid out, and legal documentation prepared. However, once the money changed hands, the narrative swiftly shifted.

To minimize their tax outgo, Kothari was convinced to sign papers converting the loan into an “investment” in their ventures. Over the years, he was reassured his money was safe and would yield consistent returns. Instead, he alleges, several payments were delayed or missing altogether. The remaining payments, he says, were never made good.

Fallout and the Ongoing Investigation

Mumbai’s Economic Offenses Wing (EOW)—an elite police unit specializing in financial fraud—has now taken over the investigation. Authorities are combing through years of business records, tracking the flow of funds, and preparing to question both Shetty and Kundra, as well as several employees implicated in the company’s transactions.

The EOW’s involvement hints at the seriousness of the case; such cases are typically handed over when multi-crore scams and intricate financial misdoings are suspected. So far, no arrests have been made, but sources suggest both Shetty and Kundra will be called in for questioning.

Mounting Legal Woes: A Pattern Emerges

This is far from the first legal tangle for Shilpa and Raj. In fact, as gossip columns quip, there’s now enough scandal attached to their names to fill a book.

Just this year, the couple faced separate allegations in a gold scam scheme where another investor accused them of financial cheating. The couple denied wrongdoing, but the matter remains sub judice.

Perhaps the most notorious episode involved Raj Kundra’s 2021 arrest in Mumbai on charges of involvement in the creation and distribution of adult content through mobile apps. For two months, Raj languished in jail, and the case made global headlines before he was released on bail. His reputation and businesses took massive hits, and the scandal remains etched in the public memory.

Raj’s name has also cropped up in ongoing investigations into a major Bitcoin-related fraud. Before that, his involvement in IPL betting scandals saw him banned from cricket-related activities—a ban that still stands.

Their business empire, once a symbol of Bollywood’s entrepreneurial spirit, is now under a dark shadow.

The Legal Defense: What Will Shilpa & Raj Say?

Following these incendiary allegations, speculation is rife about how the couple will defend themselves. Shilpa Shetty, who has managed to maintain a largely positive public image through her fitness and reality TV appearances, has not yet publicly addressed the latest accusations. Raj Kundra, for his part, has consistently denied any intentional wrongdoing in all previous cases.

Their lawyers are expected to challenge Kothari’s claims, pointing to the inherent risks in business investments. They may argue that the financial losses were due to market volatility and not fraud, and that all transactions were fully disclosed and legally documented. Whether the court buys this defense or upholds Kothari’s argument that he was systematically deceived will shape the couple’s future.

Public Reaction: Fatigue and Sympathy, or Suspicion?

On social media, the reaction has been intense. Some commenters have expressed fatigue over the constant stream of controversies, questioning why the couple repeatedly faces such grave allegations. Others feel sympathy for Shilpa Shetty, suggesting she should not be judged or implicated merely because of her husband’s business entanglements.

However, a significant section of the public is skeptical. When the same names appear in connection with so many financial disputes, they argue, it indicates a pattern rather than coincidence.

What Lies Ahead?

With the Economic Offenses Wing now investigating, the coming weeks will be critical. Both the media and public will be closely watching as investigators sift through evidence, track financial trails, and interrogate all relevant parties. If found guilty, Shilpa and Raj could face harsh penalties, including the freezing of assets, heavy fines, or even imprisonment.

For a couple used to the flicker of flashbulbs and the applause of fans, this chapter could prove to be their most challenging yet.