Raj Kundra summoned by ED in money laundering probe linked to pornography case – India TV

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty’s husband and businessman Raj Kundra to investigate a pornographic allegation. He was ordered to appear at the ED office in Mumbai at 11 am on Monday.

This comes two days after the ED raided various locations associated with Kundra as part of a money laundering investigation into the production and distribution of pornographic content.

Mumbai police arrested Kundra in July 2021 on charges of making and distributing pornographic content. He was eventually granted bail. However, he denied the claims against him, saying he was made a “scapegoat” in the case.

Earlier this year, Raj Kundra came to the attention of the ED, which seized assets worth Rs 98 crore as part of a money laundering probe into the Gain Bitcoin Ponzi scam. The seized property included a residential flat in Juhu, Mumbai, a bungalow in Pune and shareholdings.

The legal issues date back to 2018, when the ED began a probe into Amit Bharadwaj’s Ponzi scheme. Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra were not initially identified as suspects, but were notified in April 2024 that their assets had been provisionally attached as part of the ongoing investigation.

What is the case against Raj Kundra?

Kundra became the focus of the investigation into the case after it began in February 2021, when Mumbai police launched an investigation into the porn racket in response to complaints from several women who alleged that they were forced to participate in such content under the pretext of web auditions. series and movies.

They said they were pressured to complete the footage, which was then released online on subscription-based mobile apps like HotHit Movies and Hotshots, as well as websites like Nuefliks and Hotitmovies.

Raj Kundra founded Armsprime Media Private Limited in 2019 and was accused of being a key conspirator in the scheme. His firm developed the Hotshots app, which was eventually moved to Kenrin Limited, a UK company run by his brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi.

Authorities alleged that Kundra retained control of the app and other platforms used to spread sexual content, profiting handsomely from membership fees. Four of his employees came forward as witnesses, giving detailed accounts of the operations behind the illegal network.

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