Shilpa Shetty Shuts Her Bastian Bandra Resturant Amid Rs 60 Crore Cheating Probe
Actress Shilpa Shetty has announced the closure of her iconic Mumbai restaurant, Bastian in Bandra, a decision that comes just weeks after she and her husband, Raj Kundra, were named in an alleged cheating case amounting to Rs 60.4 crore. The popular eatery, a staple of the city’s nightlife since 2016, will serve its patrons for the last time this week.
Shetty took to her Instagram stories on Tuesday to share the news, describing the closure as the “end of an era.” She wrote, “This Thursday marks the end of an era as we bid farewell to one of Mumbai’s most iconic destinations – BASTIAN BANDRA. A venue that gave us countless memories, unforgettable nights, and moments that shaped the city’s nightlife now takes its final bow.”
To commemorate its legacy, Shetty announced a special farewell evening for close patrons, promising a night filled with “nostalgia, energy, and magic.” She also clarified that while the Bandra location is closing, the brand’s legacy will continue at another venue. “While we say goodbye to BASTIAN BANDRA, our Thursday night ritual Arcane Affair will continue next week at BASTIAN AT THE TOP, carrying forward the legacy in a brand-new chapter with brand new experiences,” she added. The restaurant, co-owned by Shetty and restaurateur Ranjit Bindra, has been celebrated for its seafood-centric menu.
The timing of the closure has drawn attention as it follows a recent complaint filed with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). A Mumbai-based businessman, Deepak Kothari, has accused Shetty, Kundra, and another individual of defrauding him of over Rs 60 crore through their now-defunct company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd. The complaint alleges that funds invested between 2015 and 2023 for business expansion were instead misused for personal expenses.
The couple’s lawyer, Prashant Patil, has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them “baseless and malicious.” He stated that the matter is purely civil and has already been adjudicated by the NCLT Mumbai on October 4, 2024. “This is an old transaction, wherein the company went into financial distress and eventually got entangled in a long legal battle at the NCLT. There is no criminality involved,” Patil said.
He further explained that the investment was an equity investment and that the company is already under a liquidation order, with all necessary documents and cash flow statements submitted to the EOW over the past year. Patil asserted that the case was an attempt to malign his clients and that they would be initiating appropriate action against the complainant.
