Bombay High Court grants two-week reprieve to Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra in 'cheating' case

The Bombay High Court has directed the Mumbai police to not file a chargesheet against Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra in an alleged cheating case for two weeks, until the matter is heard again. [caption id=“attachment_3774517” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra. File Photo[/caption] On 3 July, justices RV More and Sarang Kotwal heard a joint plea by Shetty and Kundra seeking that the case of cheating and criminal breach against them be quashed. “Do not file a charge sheet in the case till we hear this petition,” the court said. It also asked for the police’s stand on the couple’s plea. This case has been registered by the Thane police. On 27 April, the Bhiwandi police booked the couple based on allegations by a textile owner who accused them of duping. They have been booked under sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code. In May, they were given anticipatory bail by a trial court, after which they approached the High Court. The complaint has been filed by Ravi Bhalotia, who claims that he provided bed sheets to Best Deal TV, a tele-shopping company where Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty are directors. He claims that the couple has failed to pay him his share of the profits from the sales, which amount to Rs 24 lakh. In April, Raj Kundra and three others accused in the case recorded their statements at the Kongaon police station. The questioning apparently went on for hours. The couple’s lawyer told the court that they had no intention to cheat Bhalotia, and that the case was civil in nature. They had paid the complainant Rs 1 lakh, and Rs 24 lakh was remaining to be paid.