Shilpa Shetty Denies Income Tax Raid, Warns of Legal Action Against False Claims

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Bollywood Actor Shilpa Shetty has denied reports of an Income Tax raid at her residence, stating that it was merely a routine verification by IT officials. Her lawyer, Prashant Patil, clarified that there was no raid, but a follow-up verification related to a case linked to Bastian Hospitality, a company co-owned by Shilpa and her husband Raj Kundra. The clarification comes amid reports of Income Tax searches at Bastian Hospitality's outlets and promoters' residences across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai. The searches are reportedly linked to a case involving Bastian Garden City in Bengaluru, which was recently raided by Bengaluru police for allegedly operating beyond permitted hours. The police action followed the circulation of CCTV footage showing a late-night incident at Bastian Pub on December 11, which led to the registration of cases against two pubs, including Bastian Garden City. Shilpa has denied all allegations related to the case, describing them as baseless. In a statement, Shilpa said that a petition challenging the proceedings has already been filed before the High Court and is awaiting adjudication. She expressed confidence in the law-enforcement authorities and the judicial system, urging the media to exercise restraint as the matter is sub judice. Shilpa's lawyer warned that anyone linking the Income Tax matter to the Bastian case will face legal consequences, as the two are unrelated. The Income Tax officials have clarified that their verification is a routine process, and not a raid. Further details on the investigations are awaited.