Shilpa Shetty, husband, get anticipatory bail in duping case

A Thane Additional Sessions judge on Saturday granted anticipatory bail to actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra and husband Raj Kundra in a case of cheating registered against them by a textile firm owner who had alleged that the duo had duped him to the tune of Rs 24 lakh.

Advocates Aniket Nikam appearing for the Kundras said, "The judge has granted anticipatory bail to actor Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra. A case under Sections 420 (Cheating) and 406 (Criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against them."

Nikam along with Advocate Hiren Kamod argued that the complainant and Best Deal TV Private limited, of which the accused were directors, were in a business relationship for more than a year. Best Deal TV had made a payment of more than one crore to the complainant. In such a situation, they argued, it could not be said that the accused had any intention to cheat from the inception, which is the requirement of the charges levelled against them.

It was also contended by Nikam that the allegations made in the FIR, prima facie reflect that the dispute between the parties is civil in nature and elements of intention cannot be attracted to the facts of the present case. Relying on several Supreme Court judgments to point out that in commercial disputes custodial interrogation is unwarranted, it was stated that the accused deserve to be granted anticipatory bail.