Lawyer Confirms Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty Kundra Paid Rs. 90 Lakhs to Complainant

Ziya Khan 3 days agoLast Updated: June 27, 2024

Following the Mumbai Sessions Court’s directive to the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) police to investigate a cheating accusation against actress Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband Raj Kundra by bullion trader Prithviraj Saremal Kothari, the couple has responded to the allegations through their lawyer. The lawyer’s statement regarding the fraud case asserts that the complainant received the entire amount from the couple.The statement reads, “The complainant had filed a criminal complaint against my clients Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty in 2022. This complaint was thoroughly investigated by the police in the same year following due process of the law. After a thorough investigation, it was found that the complainant had indeed received the entire alleged amount of Rs. 90 lakhs through legitimate means of payment.

My clients submitted these documents to the police department in good faith. Upon uncovering the truth, the police delivered justice to my clients.It further adds, “Subsequently, the complainant chose to file a private complaint under sec 156(3) CrPC before the Honourable Court. After nearly 2 years, the Honourable Court has directed the police to re-investigate the case. We have complete faith in the independence and fairness of the investigation. The truth will prevail. My clients have not committed any offense, and this has been established through documents in their possession. The invoice between the complainant and my clients clearly reflects an Arbitration clause in the contract.”“If the complainant has any grievance about the alleged ‘interest amount’, the Arbitration clause can certainly be invoked.

However, initiating criminal proceedings to settle commercial disputes has been disapproved by numerous judgments of the Honourable Supreme Court and various Honourable High Courts of our country. My clients will legally contest this battle and cooperate with the investigation agencies. At the right stage of the proceedings, my clients reserve the right to sue the complainant for malicious proceedings,” the statement concludes.In Kothari’s complaint, he alleges that Shetty and Kundra, through their firm Satyug Gold Private Limited, introduced an investment plan in 2014. According to Kothari, investors were lured with an offer to purchase a fixed quantity of gold at a reduced rate upfront, with guaranteed delivery on a specified date, regardless of market conditions.

He also claims to have invested Rs 90 lakhs in exchange for 5,000 grams of 24-carat gold, scheduled for delivery by April 2, 2019. However, upon maturity, he alleges that he neither received the gold nor its equivalent value as promised. Instead, he claims he was offered a post-dated cheque only covering the principal amount of Rs 90 lakhs.