Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband Raj Kundra have received interim protection from the Bombay High Court against eviction orders issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for their Mumbai and Pune properties.
The couple challenged eviction notices related to their Juhu residence in Mumbai and a farmhouse near Pawna Dam in Pune, which were provisionally attached by the ED in connection with an alleged cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme investigation.
On Thursday, Justices Revati Mohite Dere and PK Chavan granted the couple interim relief while they pursue their appeal before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) appellate authority. The ED informed the court that no eviction action would be taken until the couple files their stay application with the appellate body.
Background of the Case
The ED attached the couple’s properties during its investigation into a crypto Ponzi scheme. While Shetty and Kundra are not accused in the primary case, their assets were provisionally attached. The agency issued eviction notices on October 3, 2024, following confirmation of the provisional attachment order on September 18, 2024. The notices gave them ten days to vacate their properties.
Couple’s Legal Arguments
Through their lawyer Prashant Patil, the couple petitioned the High Court, calling the eviction notices “meaningless, reckless, and arbitrary.” They argued that the PMLA allows 45 days to challenge provisional attachment orders, but they received eviction notices before this period expired.
Shetty and Kundra maintain that their properties were acquired legally and are not linked to any criminal proceeds. They emphasized their cooperation with the investigation, with Kundra responding to multiple ED summonses and Shetty submitting documents through her authorized representative.
What Happens Next
The court’s interim stay remains valid until the PMLA appellate authority in Delhi rules on the couple’s appeal. If the appellate authority decides against them, enforcement will be delayed by another two weeks to allow time for further legal options.
The couple now awaits the appellate authority’s decision on whether the eviction orders will ultimately be enforced.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.
