Raj Kundra clarifies his relation with Shilpa

Courtesy: Glamsham
Thursday, July 26, 2007
"I would like to make a statement following the recent barrage of misinformation provided to press from my ex-wife, Kavita Kundra.

My wife and I separated nine months ago and filed for divorce four months ago; we had agreed a mutual divorce. The reasons for the divorce are too personal for me to discuss and it would bring down my ex wife and I do not wish to stoop down to her level as it's very degrading. At this time I had no association with Shilpa Shetty whatsoever.

I was introduced to Shilpa three months ago by her manager Mr Farhath Hussain with a proposal to launch a perfume with her. This began my professional association with her. My wife has made an accusation that Shilpa was the reason my marriage broke up which is untrue as I had no association with Shilpa at the time of our separation. My association with Shilpa is purely professional and over the past few months we have become good friends.

I had bought my ex her house in January and that's where I used to go and meet my daughter. I had fought custody rights over my child through Walsall County Court where I had wanted custody of my daughter on weekends allowing her to reside with her mother on weekdays. But Kavita did not want me to have any access to my child and fought the battle in court against me and the courts gave consent orders to Kavita on May 2nd 2007. The court documents stated however that the applicant's mother shall make the child available for reasonable contact with the father but this has not been the case and my calls and requests to meet my daughter have gone unanswered for the past few months. Never in the past nine months did Kavita discuss a reunion, and on the contrary she stated she was enjoying her life with her family.

Kavita also alleges that she lived a conservative family lifestyle with my parents she had to stay at home all the time. The amount of international travel she did in the three years we were married can be verified by looking at her passport which will refute her claims.

I have still paid maintenance for my child and am very upset at not being able to meet her. I have taken legal advice on this situation and am looking into taking further action. Kavita's statements have been hurtful to me and had a damaging effect on my association with Shilpa. I regret that my personal situation has led my ex-wife to attempt to damage the reputation of a highly acclaimed celebrity. I would simply like to take this opportunity to apologize to Shilpa Shetty and her family for my ex wife's shocking allegations and request the media to not give such claims so much attention without verifying the facts."