Businessman Raj Kundra, the husband of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with a high-profile pornography racket case, sources said.
The development comes just days after raids were conducted at multiple locations linked to him. According to ED sources, Kundra, 49, has been asked to appear before the agency on Monday at 11 AM. He will be questioned at the ED’s Mumbai office. Others involved in the case have also been summoned for questioning.
Arrested in July 2021 by the Mumbai Police on charges of creating and distributing pornographic content, Kundra is now at the centre of a money laundering investigation. The ED has been probing the financial trails and alleged proceeds of crime generated from the creation and sale of porn films.
Earlier this week, the probe agency raided around 15 locations in Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh as part of its investigation, focusing on the distribution of pornographic content through mobile applications and other modes.
PORN CONTENT CASE AGAINST RAJ KUNDRA
The case against Kundra began in February 2021 when the Mumbai Police launched an investigation into a pornography racket, following complaints from several women who alleged they were coerced into participating in explicit content under the guise of auditions for web series and films.
The women claimed they were threatened and pressured into completing the shoots, which were then uploaded on subscription-based mobile apps such as Hotshots, HotHit Movies, and websites like Hothitmovies and Nuefliks.
Kundra, who founded Armsprime Media Private Limited in 2019, was accused of being the key conspirator in the racket. His company developed the Hotshots app, which was later sold to Kenrin Limited, a UK-based firm owned by his brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi.
The police alleged that Kundra continued to administer the app and other platforms that disseminated obscene content, generating significant revenue from subscriptions.
During the investigation, police seized incriminating evidence, including memory cards, hard disks, and a PowerPoint presentation detailing financial projections and market strategies for the Hotshots app. Four employees of Kundra also turned witnesses against him, providing detailed information about the racket’s operations.
Kundra was later granted bail and has denied the charges against him, claiming he was made a “scapegoat” in the case. He has also maintained that he had no active role in producing pornographic content.
Following the ED raids this week, the businessman said in a statement that he has been fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation, and that “no amount of sensationalism will cloud the truth”.