Entrepreneur Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, has firmly denied allegations that he employed Riya Arvinda Barde, a Bangladeshi adult film actor arrested for residing illegally in India.

Kundra issued a statement refuting any connection to Barde, who was recently apprehended in Maharashtra for illegally staying in India and acquiring a passport using forged documents.

Kundra clarified, "I have never met this individual nor have I owned or been associated with any production company connected to her. These claims are entirely baseless and unfounded."

Expressing his dismay over the allegations, Kundra condemned the reports, stating they were a blatant attempt to damage his reputation and capitalize on his name for media attention. He added that his business operations have always been conducted with transparency and integrity.

Kundra is reportedly planning legal action against those responsible for spreading the accusations and is preparing a Rs 100-crore defamation suit against media outlets for circulating false information.

Riya Barde, also known by aliases Aarohi Barde and Banna Sheikh, was arrested by Mumbai Police following a tip-off from a friend who discovered her real nationality. A case has been filed against her under charges of cheating, forgery, and the Foreigners Act. The authorities are currently seeking her brother and sister, while her parents reside in Qatar.