Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra Hit With Cheating Charge in 60 Crore Fraud Case

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DECEMBER 18,2025

Trouble for Bollywood's glamorous power couple Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra has taken a serious turn as the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) added a fresh cheating charge in a high-stakes Rs 60 crore fraud case.

What started as a probe into an alleged criminal breach of trust has now escalated into a criminal case with far-reaching implications for the celebrity pair.

The EOW, which is investigating the financial dispute involving the couple's now-defunct company Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, has invoked Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)mdashthe legal provision for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of propertymdashagainst the duo.

This charge carries with it the possibility of up to seven years in jail along with a fine, marking a significant escalation in the legal challenges facing Shetty and Kundra.

According to police officials, the case was initially filed under Section 406 (criminal breach of trust), but after further investigation, the more serious cheating charge was added.

Also Read:Lookout Notice Issued Against Shilpa Shetty And Raj Kundra In 60 Cr Fraud Case

The complaint was lodged by Deepak Kothari, a Mumbai-based businessman, who alleges he was duped of Rs 60.4 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal tied to Best Deal TV mdash a company in which the couple reportedly held major stakes.

The EOW has already recorded statements from both Shetty and Kundra in relation to the case, and the investigation continues to unravel the financial trail in what has quickly become one of Bollywood's most talked-about legal sagas in recent memory.

Reacting to the development, Raj Kundra took to his verified X account to vehemently deny the charges, calling them unfounded and improper.

He wrote: "We categorically deny the baseless and motivated allegations being circulated. The issues sought to be raised are being given a criminal colour without any lawful basis."

Kundra added that a legal challenge mdash a quashing petition mdash has already been filed in the High Court, and the couple is confident justice will prevail.

The post continued: "A quashing petition has already been filed before the Hon'ble High Court and is pending adjudication. Having fully cooperated with the investigation, we are sanguine that justice will prevail and have complete faith in law enforcement authorities and the Indian judiciary. We respectfully urge the media to exercise restraint as the matter is sub-judice."

Despite the denials, the addition of a Section 420 charge represents a new frontier in the legal saga, potentially complicating the couple's already intense public scrutiny and raising questions about the still-unfolding investigation.

As the case continues to developmdashwith legal filings, court hearings, and public statementsmdashthe spotlight remains firmly on Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra, whose star-studded lives are now intertwined with one of the year's most controversial judicial battles.