Actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband, businessman Raj Kundra, have approached the Bombay High Court to contest eviction notices issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding their Juhu residence and a farmhouse in Pune. The ED is investigating a money laundering case involving Kundra, which has led to the provisional attachment of these properties.
On September 18, the adjudicating authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act confirmed the agency’s orders, which resulted in the provisional attachment of the two properties. Following this, the ED issued eviction orders on September 27, demanding that Kundra vacate both properties within ten days.
The couple received the eviction notices on October 3, just days before filing their petitions. Their legal team argues that the notices were unwarranted, asserting that there was no immediate urgency to vacate their long-term residence, where they have lived with their family of six for nearly two decades. The petitions, filed through advocate Prashant Patil, also seek relief on humanitarian grounds.
During a recent hearing, the court raised concerns over the timing of the eviction notice, questioning whether the ED’s actions complied with the provisions of the PMLA, which grants aggrieved parties 45 days to appeal following a provisional attachment. The court is considering whether to issue a stay on the eviction until the case is resolved by the PMLA Appellate Tribunal in Delhi.
ED’s special counsel, advocate Satya Prakash, contended that the agency’s actions were lawful, citing Section 8(4) of the PMLA, which mandates immediate possession of attached properties. He indicated that the agency would respond to the court’s queries regarding the eviction notice.
The ED has been conducting a money laundering investigation against Kundra, which includes allegations of a ₹6,600-crore Bitcoin Ponzi scheme. The agency previously provisionally attached assets valued at ₹97.79 crore, including a flat in Shetty’s name and a bungalow in Pune. Authorities allege that Kundra received 285 bitcoins, worth approximately ₹150 crore, linked to a failed Bitcoin mining project.
As the case unfolds, the couple’s legal battle against the ED’s eviction orders highlights the broader implications of money laundering investigations and property rights in India. The court has scheduled further hearings to address the couple’s challenges to the eviction notices.
Sources By Agencies
