Bombay High Court’s Condition: Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra Must Secure ₹60 Crore to Lift Travel Ban

December 11, 2025:The Bombay High Court has placed a significant condition on actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, if they wish to have the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them temporarily suspended: they must deposit ₹60 crore or provide a continuous bank guarantee for the equivalent amount from a nationalised bank.

This directive was issued during a hearing concerning the couple’s urgent plea to travel to London to visit Kundra’s father, who is reportedly undergoing serious medical treatment.

The Core of the Legal Trouble

The Look Out Circular (LOC), which restricts their foreign travel, stems from an ongoing investigation by the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The case involves a complaint filed by businessman Deepak Kothari, who alleges that the couple induced him to invest approximately ₹60.48 crore into their now-defunct home-shopping company, Best Deal TV Pvt. Ltd., between 2015 and 2023.

• The Allegation: Mr. Kothari claims he provided the funds as a loan, backed by a personal guarantee from Shilpa Shetty, but the amount was allegedly misused and not returned following heavy business losses.
• The Couple’s Defense: Shetty and Kundra have strongly denied any criminal wrongdoing. They argue that the dispute is purely a civil and contractual matter resulting from a failed business venture, which was significantly impacted by unforeseen circumstances like the 2016 demonetisation. They have also contended that the criminal case was filed with a malicious motive to extort money.

Travel Request and the Court’s Response

The couple’s current application to the High Court sought a temporary suspension of the LOC to allow them to travel to London before January 20, 2026, citing the critical health of Mr. Kundra’s 79-year-old father.

However, the Bench, comprising Justices AS Gadkari and RR Bhonsale, maintained a firm stance, expressing doubts about the couple’s “bona fides” (good faith) and the guarantee of their return to India.

• Court’s Stance: Justice Gadkari reportedly stated, “What if you do not come back? What happens then? Show me your clients’ bonafide. Either deposit the amount or produce a bank guarantee of the nationalised bank of the said amount.”
• Counsel’s Argument: The couple’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate Abad Ponda, argued against the requirement to deposit the entire alleged fraud amount, suggesting that there is no law mandating such a condition and requested permission to submit a surety or a reasonable alternative security.

The High Court was unconvinced by the request for a lesser amount, insisting that the full ₹60 crore deposit or a continuous bank guarantee is mandatory to consider lifting the LOC for their travel. The couple’s lawyer has taken instructions to respond next week. Until the court’s condition is met, no permission for international travel will be granted.

This latest development underscores the serious nature of the allegations and the court’s priority in securing the full amount involved in the alleged financial fraud before granting any relief that would allow the couple to leave the country.