A regional court issued arrest warrants against Richard and barred Shilpa from leaving the country. The order was overturned by the Supreme Court.

But the Supreme Court ruling didn’t show up in the immigration department computer system, Mr Bhagwagar said.

"She called me in the middle of the night and was in tears," he said, adding Shilpa was finally permitted to join her dance troupe after prolonged questioning.

"I can understand something like this if I’d committed a criminal offence. But what was my offense, when I’m just an actor, going to perform a musical on foreign land," she said.

Shortly after the row erupted, Richard, 57, apologised for any offense but also said the whole controversy was manufactured by a small hard-line political party.


Shilpa’s Injunction Bid Over ’Agent’ - Aug 17 2007
Shilpa Shetty has filed a case in an Indian court to protect herself from alleged misrepresentation by Briton Jasveer Barton claiming to be her agent, the star’s publicist has said.

The petition in a Mumbai court asks for an injunction against alleged commitments made and deals signed by Barton in Shilpa’s name while the actress was participating in the British reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother, said Dale Bhagwagar in a statement.

"We have put up a case at the City Civil Court, Mumbai, asking for an injunction," he said. "By going to court, Shilpa is just protecting herself."

Shilpa made a name for herself in India as a model, before heading to Bollywood where she’s had starring roles in films such as Baazigar and Dhadkan. She rose to fame in the UK after her appearance on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year.

Shilpa slams ’wild accusations’ - July 25 2007
Shilpa Shetty has hit out at "wild accusations" that she helped ruin another woman’s marriage.

The Celebrity Big Brother winner has been romantically linked with British-based Indian businessman Raj Kundra, 31.

But his estranged wife Kavita, 25, the mother of his 10-month-old daughter, claimed her husband’s obsession with the Bollywood star ruined her marriage.

A spokeswoman for the 32-year-old actress said she and Kundra were just friends.

The star has now released a statement criticising the "baseless allegations against me of ruining her [Kavita Kundra’s] marriage".

She said: "My understanding is that Raj and Kavita’s marriage was over a year ago and they have filed for divorce and have been living separately for over a year.

"I met Raj Kundra three months ago in a business capacity, so where the question of me breaking up her marriage arises, this is impossible as I have known him for 12 weeks.

"I am disgusted by her reported comments and completely refute the allegation."

She warned of legal action if the allegations continued.

"My culture and upbringing does not permit me to break marriages and I am the least interested in knowing or hearing any more about her."

Shilpa said her "conscience is clear" over the "wild accusations".

Kavita has been quoted as saying: "Now I look at the pictures of them together and think, she’s with my husband, she’s living my life.

"She can have any man she wants and there are plenty of single men about."


Shilpa musical headed for Europe - July 20 2007
Shilpa Shetty is heading for the West End with her new Bollywood musical, before taking it on tour to Germany.

The Bollywood star, who plays the lead in the new show, told The Times of India newspaper the musical was not based on her.