The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on Friday morning at properties linked to Raj Kundra, husband of actress Shilpa Shetty, as part of a money laundering investigation tied to a pornography production and distribution network, according to PTI reports.
Case Background
The investigation dates back to February 2021, when the Mumbai Police uncovered a pornography racket operating through mobile applications. Initial findings led to five arrests, with more suspects apprehended over time.
The controversy escalated in June 2021, when Kundra was arrested for allegedly producing pornographic films and distributing them via apps, including HotShots, owned by his company. The app reportedly lured aspiring actors under the pretense of web series auditions but allegedly pressured them into filming semi-nude or nude scenes.
Mumbai Police claimed that Kundra was the primary conspirator, citing evidence found on seized servers containing adult content and WhatsApp chats detailing the sale of 119 adult films for $1.2 million. Kundra was granted bail in September 2021 after spending two months in custody.
Latest Developments
The ED’s ongoing probe centers around allegations of money laundering linked to profits generated from the distribution of pornographic content. Apart from Kundra, actors Poonam Pandey, Sherlyn Chopra, and Umesh Kamat have also been named in the case.
The investigation gained momentum earlier this year when Mumbai Police resumed its probe, encountering setbacks but uncovering fresh evidence.
Legal Defense
During bail plea hearings in 2021, Kundra’s defense argued that neither he nor his IT head, Ryan Thorpe, controlled the content uploaded on HotShots. However, police maintained that they had sufficient evidence tying Kundra to the alleged crimes.
