The Bombay sessions court on June 12 directed the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) police station to investigate allegations of cheating made by a bullion trader against actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband, Raj Kundra, after observing that the complainant has made out a prima facie cognisable offence against them.
Prithviraj Kothari, managing director of Riddhi Siddhi Bullions, filed an application before the sessions court against Shilpa and Raj, founders of Satyug Gold Pvt. Ltd., two of its directors and an employee. According to Kothari, he lost over Rs. 90 lakh which he had invested in a scheme allegedly floated by Satyug. The scheme, launched in 2014, required investors to pay upfront in gold at a discounted rate and receive the gold on maturity. The gold of the agreed quantity would be later delivered on the maturity date, which Kothari alleged was not done. He filed complaints against Satyug and its founders in January 2021 and April and May 2022. The complaints alleged that he had been cheated in an alleged criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code as well as under the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors Act, 1999. The complainant appealed to the court to give directions to the BKC police station to probe Satyug and its founders, after registering an FIR.
After hearing special public prosecutor Seema Deshpande for the state, judge N.P. Mehta said, “Prima facie, cognisable offence is made out.” The court directed the police to probe the allegations and register an FIR if any cognisable offence was found to have been committed by accused.