(Image source from: Instagram.com)

Actor Shilpa Shetty has officially pulled back her temporary request for permission to go abroad while a fraud investigation involving her and her spouse Raj Kundra, worth Rs 60 crores, is being conducted, as was reported to the Bombay High Court on Thursday. This decision follows the court expressing strong doubts about allowing the couple to travel. Lawyer Niranjan Mundargi, representing Shetty, informed the bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad that the overseas journey - to the US for a "professional obligation," related to an international video project - "did not happen," and that she is no longer pursuing the current travel request. He was given permission to submit a new application if they wish to travel later. The key petition contesting the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Shetty and Kundra is set for further discussion on November 17.

During the session, the complainant's attorney Yusuf Iqbal raised an objection to an affidavit from Shetty dated October 14, arguing it was "not legally notarized." He claimed that Shetty hadn’t signed the affidavit in front of the notary. Mundargi mentioned that he had no information regarding the notarization matter. "Regardless, the applicant does not plan to travel at the moment and wishes to withdraw," he stated. The case began after businessman Deepak Kothari complained that he was persuaded to put Rs 60 crores into Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, a company associated with Shetty and Kundra, and that the money was used for personal expenses. Earlier this month, the High Court denied the couple's request to visit Phuket, noting that they had not provided solid documents to support the trip and pointing out that the investigation into the alleged fraud is still in progress.