Income Tax authorities are conducting searches at multiple locations linked to Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra across cities, including Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai and other places, sources told India Today. The action forms part of an ongoing investigation into their business interests in the hospitality sector.
The primary focus of the searches is Bastian Hospitality, the company that operates the popular Bastian-branded clubs and restaurants in major cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Goa. These establishments are known for their high-profile clientele and upscale nightlife offerings.
According to sources, the search operations cover both commercial and residential premises. These include outlets run by the company as well as the homes of its promoters. The raids began on Wednesday and are still underway, with officials scrutinising financial records, operational details and management practices.
Authorities are examining the functioning of these high-end hospitality venues and their business dealings as part of a case linked to Bastian Garden City, a hotel and pub venture associated with Shilpa Shetty. More information is expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
Earlier, similar search operations were carried out in Bengaluru in connection with the same probe involving the actress’s hospitality business interests, indicating that the inquiry spans multiple jurisdictions.
The latest development comes a day after Bengaluru police registered cases against two pubs, including Bastian Garden City, which is co-owned by Shilpa Shetty. The cases were filed on allegations that the establishments were operating beyond their permitted business hours.
Bastian Pub was originally founded by Bastian Hospitality, owned by businessman Ranjit Bindra, with Shilpa Shetty acquiring a 50 per cent stake in the venture in 2019. Since then, the brand has expanded its footprint across several major cities.
Shilpa Shetty has denied all allegations, terming them baseless and without merit. She said a petition challenging the case has already been filed and is currently pending before the High Court.
In a statement, the actor said she has fully cooperated with the investigation and expressed confidence that justice would prevail. She added that she has complete faith in law enforcement agencies and the judicial system, while also urging the media to exercise restraint as the matter is sub judice.
The police action followed the circulation of CCTV footage showing a late-night incident at the pub around 1.30 am on December 11. The video showed two groups of patrons engaged in a heated verbal exchange, though there were no reports of serious physical violence.
Alongside Bastian Garden City, police also booked Sourberry Pub on Residency Road. The venue has previously drawn attention after being linked to an incident involving actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan.
In that earlier case, a complaint alleged that Aryan Khan made an offensive hand gesture that reportedly offended some women at the venue. Authorities later took suo motu action after videos suggested that both pubs were operating beyond their allowed hours.
