The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted raids at the residence, office, and properties of businessman Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, in Mumbai.
These raids are part of a money laundering investigation tied to a pornography production and distribution racket, accoring to the Indian media.
The ED’s investigation follows a case uncovered in February 2021 by the Mumbai Police, which revealed the operation of a pornography network.
Kundra was arrested in June 2021 as the alleged primary conspirator in this racket and spent two months in jail before being granted bail in September 2021.
Case details
According to the Mumbai Police, aspiring models and actors were lured under the pretense of movie roles but were coerced into performing in pornographic films
. These films were reportedly shot in rented properties and uploaded to subscription-based platforms, such as the app “HotShots,” owned by Kundra’s company.
Police claim to have found evidence, including WhatsApp chats, indicating Kundra’s involvement in the sale of 119 adult films for $1.2 million.
Servers seized during the investigation also contained adult content linked to the racket.
During earlier hearings, Kundra’s defense argued that neither he nor his IT head, Ryan Thorpe, was responsible for deciding the content uploaded.
However, the Mumbai Police maintained they had sufficient evidence to establish Kundra’s involvement.
Ongoing raids and investigations
As part of the ED’s probe, several of Kundra’s associates’ premises are also being searched to trace the sources of illicit funds and identify others involved in the operation.
The investigation focuses on the financial transactions linked to the production and distribution of explicit content.
Past allegations
This is not the first time Raj Kundra has been embroiled in controversies.
Apart from his alleged role in the pornography racket, he has faced accusations of involvement in other illegal activities, including reports linking him to a Bitcoin Ponzi scam.
Key Accused
In addition to Kundra, actors Poonam Pandey, Sherlyn Chopra, and Umesh Kamat have been named in the case.
Authorities continue to analyze evidence, aiming to bring all those involved in the racket to justice.
The ED’s raids and investigations underline the seriousness of the case as the agency seeks to uncover the full extent of the financial and operational network behind the alleged crimes.
Further developments are awaited as the probe progresses.
