Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra Issue FIRST Statement After Cheating Allegation: 'Not Committed Any Offence'

Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty got married in 2009.

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband Raj Kundra have issued their first statement amid the cheating allegations. Earlier this month, the couple was accused of cheating a trader in a gold scheme. However, Shilpa and Raj’s advocate has now said that the two have not committed any offence and are hopeful that truth will prevail.

“The complainant had moved a criminal complaint against my clients Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty in 2022. This complaint was thoroughly investigated by the police in the year of 2022 by adopting the due process of law. After a thorough investigation, it was found that the complainant had in fact received the entire alleged amount of Rupees 90 lacs through legitimate means of payment. My clients bonafidely submitted these documents to the police department. After finding out the truth of the matter, the police delivered justice to my clients,” their statement read.

“Post this enquiry, the complainant opted to file a private complaint under sec 156(3) CrPC before the Honourable Court. After a passage of almost 2 years, the Honourable Court has directed the police to investigate the case again. We have complete faith in the independence and fairness of the investigation. The truth shall prevail,” it continued.

“My clients have not committed any offence and it has been established through documents in possession of my clients. The invoice between the Complainant and my clients, clearly reflect that there is an Arbritation clause in the said contract,” Shilpa and Raj continued.

Shilpa and Raj further stated that they are ready to cooperate with the investigating agencies and concluded by saying, “However, the act of initiating criminal proceedings for settling commercial disputes has been deprecated by a plethora of judgements of Honourable Supreme Court and various Honourable High Courts of our country. My clients shall fight this battle legally and shall cooperate with the investigation agencies. My clients reserve their right to sue the complainant for malicious proceedings, at the right stage of the proceedings.”

Earlier this month, bullion trader Prithviraj Saremal Kothari moved to the Mumbai Sessions Court demanding action against Shilpa and Raj. Reportedly, Kothari alleged that Shilpa and Raj orchestrated a scheme under their company and asked traders to invest in it, promising lucrative returns on gold investments. The scheme was named ‘Satyug Gold’ and allegedly assured investors of gold delivery at a fixed rate irrespective of market fluctuations.

Kothari claimed that he invested in the scene but did not receive the promised gold upon reaching the maturity date on April 2, 2019. He further claimed that he invested over Rs 90 lakh in the scheme. Kothari also submitted a cover letter signed by Shilpa Shetty and an invoice issued by Satyug Gold Private Limited in court to support his allegations.

This is not the first time that Shilpa and Raj have landed in legal trouble. In April this year, ED seized Raj Kundra’s properties worth Rs 97.79 crore. The attached properties include a residential flat in Mumbai’s Juhu, in the name of his wife Shilpa Shetty. Another property is a residential bungalow in Pune and Equity shares in the name of Raj Kundra, the ED said.

In 2021, Raj Kundra was also arrested in connection to the alleged creation and uploading of pornographic films on mobile applications. He was granted bail after almost two months.