The Bombay High Court has directed actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra to deposit ₹60 crore before it considers their plea seeking permission to travel abroad. The couple had approached the court to challenge a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them in connection with a cheating case.
The LOC stems from a complaint filed by businessman Deepak Kothari, who accused the duo of defrauding him of over ₹60 crore under the pretext of expanding their business ventures. He alleged that instead of investing the funds as promised, the couple diverted them for personal gain.
A division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad heard the matter. The petitioners had sought permission to travel internationally between October 2 and 29, and again from December 20 to January 6, 2026, with stops in Los Angeles, Colombo, and the Maldives.
During the proceedings, their counsel informed the court that a planned trip to Phuket (October 2–5) had been cancelled. However, they intended to attend a YouTube event in Los Angeles (October 21–24), followed by a short visit to Colombo (October 25) and a business trip to the Maldives (October 26–29).
The bench asked for proof of the YouTube event, directing the couple to produce communication records or contact details of the organizers. “If you’ve received calls, provide the numbers—we’ll get them verified,” Chief Justice Chandrashekhar said.
Although the couple’s lawyers argued that their clients had cooperated fully with investigators, the Court clarified that such cooperation did not exempt them from scrutiny. “Deposit the amount with the court, and we’ll consider your request after that,” the bench stated.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 14.
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