Raj Kundra, businessman and husband of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court to quash the Look-Out Circular (LOC) issued against him in the ongoing pornography case from 2021. Kundra is also seeking a temporary suspension of the LOC pending the decision on his petition.
A Look-Out Circular is typically issued to prevent individuals involved in criminal or legal disputes from leaving the country. The plea for urgent attention was presented before a division bench consisting of Justices Sarang Kotwal and SM Modak, who subsequently directed the court’s registry to schedule the matter before an appropriate bench.
The controversy dates back to February 2021 when Mumbai Police unearthed an alleged racket distributing pornographic content. Kundra, arrested in July 2021, was pinpointed as a principal figure in orchestrating the distribution through various subscription-based apps and websites like HotHit Movies, Hotshots, Hothitmovies, Nuefliks, and Escapenow.
Represented by advocate Prashant Patil, Kundra argues that despite adhering to all bail conditions since his September 2021 release—including over 20 approved overseas trips—the LOC remains unjustifiably active. This ongoing restriction has purportedly caused him considerable distress and complications during his travels.
In a statement to the Hindustan Times, Advocate Patil emphasized, “Raj Kundra has responsibly adhered to all legal stipulations without a single breach. Despite this compliance, he continues to endure undue hardship from the lingering effects of the 2021-issued LOC. Such continued enforcement infringes upon his fundamental right to travel.”
Kundra’s legal team contends that with the investigation concluded and Kundra out on bail, the continued enforcement of the LOC lacks grounds and infringes upon his rights, marking it as arbitrary and a violation of natural justice principles. They also claim the LOC was issued in a “casual and mechanical manner” without sufficient justification.
