Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday denied actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra permission to travel to Thailand for a three-day family vacation, citing serious pending legal cases against the couple. The court also refused to suspend the lookout circular issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police, which restricts their overseas travel.
During the hearing before Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad, the couple’s counsel argued that Kundra has always cooperated with investigating agencies and highlighted his need to travel abroad for business, while Shetty requires international travel for professional commitments. However, government counsel opposed any relief for the couple. The matter is slated for the next hearing after two weeks.
A criminal complaint was lodged against the couple by businessman Deepak Kothari, alleging that between 2015 and 2023, they convinced him to invest Rs 60 crore in their now-defunct company — Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd — but the amount was used for their own personal benefits.
The LOC, which imposed overseas travel curbs against the couple, was issued at the instance of the EOW in connection with the probe. As per the petition of the couple, Shetty had resigned from the company in September 2016 itself. Kundra was a businessman who was required to travel abroad frequently, while Shetty, being an actor, had to go overseas to fulfil her professional commitments, it said.
“The applicants have a fundamental right to carry on their business and/or profession, and denying such opportunities (to travel abroad) would amount to a violation of their fundamental rights,” the petition argued. The petition has sought suspension of the LOC from October 2025 to January 2026 to allow them to undertake overseas trips.
