Raj Kundra Summoned by ED After Raids in Pornography Case Investigation

Raj Kundra Summoned by ED: The husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, businessman Raj Kundra has been called for a probe into the pornographic case by the Enforcement Directorate. He has been told to appear at 11 am on Monday at the Mumbai office of the ED.

This is just a couple days post-ED raids at multiple locations related to Kundra under the purview of the money laundering investigation concerning production and distribution of pornographic content.

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Kundra was arrested by Mumbai Police in July 2021 for allegedly producing and distributing pornographic content. He was later granted bail. However, he dismissed allegations against him claiming that he was a "scapegoat" in this case.

Earlier this year, Raj Kundra found himself under the ED as it seized assets to the tune of Rs 98 crore during a money laundering investigation linked to the Gain Bitcoin Ponzi Scam, which included two residential flats in Juhu, one in Mumbai, a bungalow in Pune, and a set of equity shares.

The legal troubles occurred since 2018 when the ED started an inquiry on the fraudulent scheme of Amit Bharadwaj. Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra were not included in the suspects but were informed in April 2024 about their assets being provisionally attached relating to ongoing case.

What Is The Case Against Raj Kundra?

Kundra was embroiled in controversy in this case after the initiation of the case in February 2021 when Mumbai Police launched an inquiry into the pornography racket, which came to light based on the complaints made by several women who said they were compelled to do such contents under the pretext of auditioning for web series and films.

They said they were coerced into finishing the shoots, and it would be subsequently uploaded online on subscription-based mobile apps like HotHit Movies, Hotshots, and sites like Nuefliks and Hothitmovies.

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Armsprime Media Private Limited was founded by Raj Kundra in the year 2019. This is a company that has become the focus of all the allegations that identified him as the main conspirator in this entire racket. At the same time, the company launched the Hotshots application, which was followed by a transfer to Kenrin Limited, a UK-based company run by his brother-in-law.

Authority has said that Kundra still controls the app and refuges to other platforms that are sold to people for major profits through subscriptions. However, four of his employees are witnesses to the whole drama through which they have managed to create this illegal setup.

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