The Bombay High Court on Tuesday made a striking observation during the hearing of actor Shilpa Shetty’s plea to suspend a Look-Out Circular (LOC) issued against her in connection with the ₹60-crore cheating and fraud case involving her husband, Raj Kundra. The court, led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam A. Ankhad, suggested that Shetty could even consider turning into a prosecution witness against her husband — a comment that drew attention both inside and outside the courtroom.
The remark came while the bench was hearing Shetty’s request to travel to Los Angeles between October 22 and 27 for a professional engagement. Her lawyers, Advocates Niranjan Mundargi and Keral Mehta, told the court that she had been invited by YouTube sensation MrBeast to participate in a global event. They clarified that the actor’s son would accompany her on the trip, while her mother and daughter would remain in Mumbai under Kundra’s care.
Advocate Mundargi highlighted that Shetty’s trip was short-term and purely professional, saying, “She has no other case pending against her. She is an artist in the entertainment industry and has a confirmed shoot in Los Angeles.” The defense also submitted that Shetty had cooperated fully with investigators and had no direct role in the alleged cheating case except being a director in one of Kundra’s firms and receiving certain transactions linked to him.
However, opposition lawyers Yusuf Iqbal and Zain Shroff, representing the complainant, objected to Shetty’s plea. They argued that Shetty had earlier sought permission to travel to Colombo for leisure on the same dates, and that her current claim of a “professional visit” was inconsistent. They pointed out that she had not submitted any formal documentation or agreement proving her engagement with MrBeast.
The court questioned this discrepancy, asking why no official contract or work document had been produced to support her claim. In response, Advocate Mundargi stated that a formal agreement could only be signed once Shetty obtained travel clearance from the court. It was at this moment that Chief Justice Chandrashekhar humorously remarked, “Why don’t you become an approver against Accused No. 1?” — referring to Raj Kundra.
In criminal law, an approver is an accused person who turns witness for the prosecution, often in exchange for leniency or a pardon. Mundargi, taking the remark lightly, replied, “Tomorrow, the newspapers will carry this communication just like the last time.” To this, the Chief Justice responded with a smile, “So be it.”
Following the brief exchange, the bench reserved its decision and scheduled the next hearing for Thursday, October 16, keeping the travel plea pending until then. The judges emphasized that Shetty’s request would be carefully evaluated, considering both her cooperation with the investigation and the seriousness of the charges in the ₹60-crore case.
The ongoing case revolves around allegations that Raj Kundra and his business associates deceived investors through fraudulent business ventures, siphoning off funds under the pretext of lucrative returns. The investigation, which has already brought multiple individuals under scrutiny, continues to unfold as authorities trace money trails and examine the roles of those connected to Kundra’s companies.
For now, Shilpa Shetty’s travel plans remain uncertain, hinging on the High Court’s decision in the upcoming hearing — one that could have wider implications for her legal standing and public image amid a case that has already captured national attention.
