London, Oct 13 : An Indian restaurant group owned by Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty is being sued for six million pounds by its former boss, who claims he was forced out.

Tiffinbites founder Jamal Hirani has appealed before an industrial tribunal in Watford, where he is claiming more than 1.5 million pounds for unfair dismissal.

He is also understood to be preparing a High Court action seeking up to six million pounds, based on the 30 percent of the firm he previously owned, the London Evening Standard reported.

Hirani says he was forced out by his colleagues in a process that led to the firm realunching under a new name, the V8 Gourmet Group, in which Shetty and her entrepreneur fiance Raj Kundra have a 33 percent stake.

A spokesman for Shetty told the paper: "The case refers to events that happened before Shilpa and Raj joined. She was always aware this tribunal was coming up and hopes for a fair outcome." (IANS)