The actor’s lawyer warns of legal action against “mischievous” claims linking a routine tax follow-up to an ongoing ₹60 crore cheating case.
December 19, 2025: On Thursday, December 18, 2025, advocate Prashant Patil issued a stern statement to quell rumors of an Income Tax raid at the Mumbai residence of Shilpa Shetty Kundra. The clarification followed a flurry of media reports suggesting that tax authorities were conducting extensive searches across Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru in connection with a multi-crore fraud investigation.
“On behalf of my client Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra I can confirm that there is no Income Tax ‘Raid’… There is only a routine verification by the income tax officials pertaining to follow up,” Patil stated.
The legal representative further warned that any attempts to link this tax visit to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) case would face “legal consequences before the appropriate court of law.”
The ₹60 Crore Fraud Probe: A Rising Legal Storm
Despite the denial of a tax raid, Shilpa Shetty and her husband, Raj Kundra, remain deeply embroiled in a criminal breach of trust case. Recently, the Mumbai Police EOW added Section 420 (Cheating) of the IPC to the FIR, intensifying the pressure on the celebrity couple.
- The Allegation: Businessman Deepak Kothari alleges he was duped of ₹60.4 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal between 2015 and 2023.
- The Entity: The dispute centers on Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, a now-defunct home shopping channel where the couple served as directors.
- Shilpa’s Defense: The actress has broken her silence, stating her role was strictly “non-executive” and non-operational. She further claimed her family actually loaned ₹20 crore to the company, which remains unpaid.
The “Bastian” and Bengaluru Connection
The timing of the I-T visit fueled speculation because of recent controversies surrounding the Bastian hospitality brand, in which Shilpa holds a 50% stake.
- Bengaluru Pub Crackdown: Earlier this week, Bengaluru police booked Bastian Garden City for allegedly operating past permitted hours following a late-night incident on December 11.
- I-T Focus: Sources suggest that while the home visit was termed “routine,” tax officials have been inspecting financial records linked to Bastian Hospitality across multiple cities to verify compliance.
Current Legal Standing
The couple has already approached the Bombay High Court with a quashing petition to dismiss the FIR, calling the matter a civil business dispute rather than a criminal act. Previously, the High Court directed them to deposit ₹60 crore to suspend a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them.