The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted searches at 15 locations, including the Juhu residence of businessman Raj Kundra and his wife, Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty. The raids also extended to offices and premises associated with Kundra’s business operations in Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh. These actions are part of an ongoing investigation into a money laundering case linked to Kundra’s alleged involvement in a pornography racket.
The investigation stems from a 2021 FIR filed by Mumbai Police, which implicated Kundra in running an illegal racket producing and distributing pornographic content. Kundra was arrested in July 2021 but later released on bail. The ED’s probe, initiated in May 2022, focuses on financial irregularities tied to these allegations.
The racket came under scrutiny in February 2021 when Mumbai Police raided a bungalow in Madh Island, where explicit films were reportedly shot. These films were distributed via subscription-based mobile apps, including HotHit Movies and Hotshots, which became central to the investigation.
Kundra was linked to Arms Prime Media Limited (AMPL), the original developer of the Hotshots app. He sold the app to Kenrin Limited, a UK-based entity allegedly owned by his brother-in-law, Pradeep Bakshi, for $25,000 in 2019. Despite the sale, Kundra’s company, Viaan Industries, reportedly continued its collaboration with Kenrin, raising questions about his ongoing role in the operations.
The ED is scrutinizing bank transactions linked to Viaan Industries and other entities to establish the flow of funds. Officials suspect that shell companies in India were used to route money from Kenrin Limited, potentially laundering proceeds from the alleged racket.
Raj Kundra has denied the allegations, calling them baseless and politically motivated. In 2023, he filed complaints with the CBI and the Prime Minister’s Office, alleging a conspiracy by a businessman and certain police officials to frame him. Kundra claims that his name is being misused as part of a vendetta.