Today, on October 10th, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Bombay High Court it would delay eviction notices to actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra amid a money laundering investigation related to Bitcoin fraud. The couple challenged the notices, citing legal rights, and received temporary relief as the appellate tribunal will hear their case.
Maharashtra: In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the Bombay High Court today, on October 10th, that it would not act on eviction notices served to actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra. These notices were issued in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged Bitcoin fraud. The ED clarified that they would hold off on the eviction until an appellate tribunal hears and decides the couple’s challenge to the property attachment order.
Background on the Case
On September 27, 2024, the ED issued eviction notices to Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra, ordering them to vacate their lavish Juhu home in Mumbai and a farmhouse in Pune. These notices were part of the ED’s ongoing investigation into a Bitcoin fraud case involving Amit Bhardwaj and others. Although Shetty and Kundra have not been named as accused in the case, the ED attached their properties as part of a provisional attachment order.
The couple immediately challenged the eviction in the Bombay High Court, arguing that the notices were “arbitrary, illegal, and uncalled for.” Their lawyer, Prashant Patil, pointed out that the couple had only received the eviction notices on October 3, well after the date they were issued. He stressed that there was no urgency for such an action, particularly when they have legal remedies available to challenge the attachment order.
High Court’s Response
A division bench comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan questioned the urgency behind the ED’s eviction notice. They noted that the couple had every right to appeal the attachment order and inquired why the ED was pushing for eviction before the appellate process was completed.
On Thursday, the ED assured the court that it would refrain from acting on the eviction notice until the tribunal reaches a decision on the couple’s appeal. Additionally, the court ruled that even if the tribunal rules against Shetty and Kundra, the eviction notices would not be enforced for two weeks, giving them some respite.
The Couple’s Defense
In their legal plea, Shetty and Kundra requested that the eviction notices be quashed. They emphasized that the Juhu residence has been their home for nearly two decades, housing six family members. The couple also claimed that their property has no connection to the alleged Bitcoin fraud, insisting that Kundra had no involvement in the case whatsoever. They further argued that no eviction should take place before a conviction is secured.
The ED’s Probe
The ED’s investigation into the alleged Bitcoin fraud dates back to 2018, when it filed a complaint against Amit Bhardwaj and others. Raj Kundra was summoned multiple times during the probe, to which he complied and provided the necessary responses. The ED’s provisional attachment order, issued in April 2024, covered the couple’s properties, including the Juhu residence that Kundra’s father purchased in 2009.
According to the plea, the adjudicating authority confirmed the attachment order on September 18, 2024. However, the couple maintains that this attachment should remain in effect only until the conclusion of the trial and should not warrant an immediate eviction.
Conclusion
With the Bombay High Court’s ruling, Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra have secured a temporary reprieve, allowing them to stay in their home while their appeal against the ED’s property attachment order is heard by the appellate tribunal. This ongoing legal battle continues to unfold, with the final verdict yet to be determined.
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