Officials told IANS that statements from former chief financial officers, accountants, and directors indicated that payments shown on company records were never actually made. A forensic audit of the firm’s bank accounts has now been ordered to trace the money trail and determine the scale of misappropriation.
The EOW has also questioned four former senior employees of Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, summoning them to verify financial claims, including whether Rs20 crore were genuinely spent on office furnishings as stated by Kundra. Investigators are also probing if employees’ salaries were paid from company earnings or diverted funds. More summons are expected for product suppliers and advertising partners linked to the firm.
The case stems from a complaint filed in August 2025 by Mumbai businessman Deepak Kothari, who accused Kundra and Shetty of defrauding him of ₹60.48 crore. Kothari alleged that the couple, as directors of Best Deal TV, convinced him to provide funds under the pretext of an investment, promising monthly returns. He claims the payments, made between 2015 and 2016, were never repaid despite multiple requests.
In October, Shilpa Shetty was questioned for over four hours at her Mumbai residence, while Raj Kundra was interrogated separately last week. Both have denied wrongdoing. The EOW continues to examine corporate documents and financial transfers before deciding whether further legal action will be taken against the couple.
