Mumbai Police Investigates Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty's Employees in Rs 60-Crore Fraud Case

Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty are facing allegations of defrauding a businessman of Rs 60 crore through their company Best Deal Private Limited.

Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has summoned four employees of the company owned by actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra for interrogation in connection with the Rs 60-crore fraud case. The couple is accused of allegedly deceiving businessman Deepak Kothari in a loan-cum-investment arrangement.

One of these four employees has already provided his statement to the EOW last week and may be called for additional questioning if required. The remaining three employees will have their statements recorded in the upcoming days. According to a senior EOW official, these individuals held high-ranking positions within Raj Kundra's company during the relevant period.

The primary objective of the questioning is to verify Kundra's claim that Rs 20-crore was utilized for office furnishings. Additionally, the EOW wants to determine the source of employee salaries – whether they were paid from the company's revenue or alternative sources.

By questioning these employees, the EOW is attempting to track the flow of funds in this case.

The senior official further stated that the investigation team is working to establish whether Kundra's company had sufficient client orders to justify obtaining a Rs 60-crore loan under the guise of investment.

The EOW also plans to question product suppliers and individuals connected to companies that advertised products for Kundra's business. Following the completion of these interrogations, Kundra may be summoned again for further questioning if deemed necessary.

During his questioning in October, businessman Kundra explained that his company dealt in electrical and household appliances and experienced substantial losses following the 2016 demonetization implemented by the Centre. He attributed the inability to repay borrowed funds to this financial crisis.

A case was filed against Kundra and Shetty, who served as directors of the now-defunct Best Deal TV Private Limited, a home shopping and online retail platform, on August 14 in Mumbai for allegedly defrauding businessman Deepak Kothari of nearly Rs 60 crore in a loan-cum-investment arrangement.

Kothari alleged that between 2015 and 2023, the couple persuaded him to invest Rs 60-crore in Best Deal TV Private Limited, but the funds were instead used for their personal benefit.

Kundra has claimed that a portion of the Rs 60 crore was paid as fees to actresses Bipasha Basu and Neha Dhupia.