Big Brother star Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband Raj Kundra have reportedly received an eviction notice ordering them to vacate two of their India homes in connection with a Bitcoin fraud case.
But it appears that the couple, who were told to leave their residences in Mumbai and Pune, have challenged the Bombay High Court's order.
The notices, which the couple received last week, give them ten days to leave the area.
But Shetty and Kundra's lawyer tried to quash the order, calling it unnecessary, according to the Times of India.
The eviction notices are related to an alleged Bitcoin fraud case against Amit Bhardwaj, who masterminded and promoted the 2017 Gain Bitcoin Ponzi scam.
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and businessman husband Raj Kundra. The couple launched a legal battle to remain in their home after receiving eviction notices in relation to a Bitcoin fraud case
Shilpa Shetty pictured in 2022. The actress, who has been a household name in India since the 1990s, rose to fame in Britain in 2007 after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother
Under the scheme, investors were falsely promised a 10% return per month, but in the form of bitcoin.
An investigation into the scam revealed that Kundra received 285 Bitcoins from the mastermind to establish a Bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine in April.
As reported by NDTV, as the deal did not materialize, Kundra still owns 285 Bitcoins which are currently valued at around £13.5 million.
The couple argued that their residences had no connection to the fraud case and argued that Kundra had no involvement.
They also said they are confident they will be exonerated following the investigation.
In April, the couple received a notice provisionally attaching their assets under India's Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which included a residential apartment in Juhu, Mumbai, and a bungalow in Pune.
Shetty has been a household name in India since the 1990s and rose to fame in Britain in 2007 after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother.
Her time on the Channel 4 reality show saw her become the victim of racist abuse at the hands of Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara.
Shetty's time on the Channel 4 reality show famously saw her become the victim of racist abuse at the hands of Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara. In photo: Jade Goody arguing with Shetty Shilpa on TV show
Shetty was called 'Shilpa Poppadum' on the show. In photo: Shetty arguing with Jade Goody
She went on record saying that she forgave Goody and her housemates, even appearing alongside Goody a year later on Bigg Boss, the Indian version of Big Brother.
Ofcom received a record 44,500 complaints after Shetty was called 'Shilpa Poppadom' and Lloyd told her she should 'go home'.
Despite the violence she often endured, Shilpa – who was the first Indian on Celebrity Big Brother – became the country's underdog and won the series.
Shetty, who starred in the first Bollywood film shown in Leicester Square, was later offered a place in EastEnders but turned it down due to other commitments.
She made it clear that she forgave Goody and her housemates, even appearing alongside Goody a year later on Bigg Boss, the Indian version of Big Brother, where Goody was diagnosed with late-stage cervical cancer.
After Goody's death in 2009, Shilpa wrote: 'She fought bravely, lost her battle with cancer but won many hearts with her courage and how she dealt with it.
'My heart sank upon hearing the news, but in hindsight I was happy that she was no longer in pain and passed away peacefully in her sleep.'
'All I can say is that she truly was a special person and even in her last moment all she could think about was securing her family's future, she didn't care how, but her goal was just that.
'She died a hero's death. My deepest condolences and I hope his soul finally rests in peace.'
