Shilpa Shetty has condemned the 'trial by media' and the 'rumours and accusations' surrounding her husband's arrest for allegedly producing pornographic films.
The Bollywood actress, 46, said she is a 'proud law-abiding Indian citizen' as she broke her silence in an Instagram post on Monday after husband Raj Kundra was denied bail last week.
The 45-year-old was detained on July 19 in Mumbai by police who said they have 'sufficient evidence' that he is a 'key conspirator' in a porn production ring. He has denied the allegations.
Publishing or transmitting 'obscene' material including porn is illegal in India under a 2015 law and punishable by up to seven years in jail.
In her post, Shetty said: 'Yes! The past few days have been challenging, on every front. There have been a lot of rumours and accusations. A lot of unwarranted aspersions on me cast by the media and (not so) well wishers as well.
'A lot of trolling/questions posed… not only to me but also to my family. MY STAND… I HAVE NOT COMMENTED YET and will continue to refrain from doing so on this case as it is subjudice, so please stop attributing false quotes on my behalf.
Shilpa Shetty has condemned the 'trial by media' and the 'rumours and accusations' surrounding her husband's arrest for allegedly producing pornographic films
The Bollywood actress, 46, said she is a 'proud law-abiding Indian citizen' as she broke her silence in an Instagram post on Monday
'Reiterating my philosophy of, as a celebrity "Never complain, never explain". All I will say is, as it's an on-going investigation, I have full faith in the Mumbai Police & the Indian judiciary.'
The Celebrity Big Brother 2007 winner appealed for privacy in the heartfelt plea on Instagram posted to her 21 million followers.
She continued: 'As a family, we are taking recourse to all our available legal remedies. But, till then I humbly request you - especially as a MOTHER - to respect our privacy for my children's sake and request you to refrain from commenting on half-baked information without verifying the veracity of the same.
'I am a proud law-abiding Indian citizen and a hardworking professional for the last 29 years. People have put their faith in ME & I've never let anyone down.
'So, most importantly, I request you to respect my family's and "my right" to privacy in these times. We don't deserve a media trial. Please let the law take its course.'
The Celebrity Big Brother 2007 winner appealed for privacy in the heartfelt plea on Instagram posted to her 21 million followers
Raj Kundra, 45, pictured arriving at Mumbai's Esplanade Court, also known as Killa Court, on Tuesday
Media reports say Kundra is accused of telling aspiring actresses they could break into Bollywood through his company, Viaan Industries, which allegedly produced pornographic content for Hotshots, an adults-only mobile app.
The women were then pressured into shooting sex scenes on the pretext of securing a foothold in the Hindi film industry, police said.
US-based YouTube and TikTok influencer Puneet Kaur said the businessman contacted her on Instagram this year asking her to enter a contest on Hotshots.
'This man was really luring people - we literally thought it was spam when he sent that DM to me!? Jesus Christ man rot in jail,' Kaur posted on Instagram last week.
Shetty allegedly told police her husband was producing 'erotica, not porn' and was innocent.
There is currently no evidence she was involved in the alleged porn production.
Bollywood actress and Celebrity Big Brother star Shilpa Shetty (pictured right) has given a statement to Indian police as they investigate her husband
