The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted search operation at Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty’s husband, producer Raj Kundra’s residence in Mumbai. The agency’s raid is part of an investigation into money laundering linked to the production and distribution of pornographic content via mobile applications. ED officials were at Shetty’s residence in Santa Cruz since 6 AM. Raj Kundra was previously arrested in connection with the pornography case.
Search operations are underway at approximately 15 locations across Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh. The agency is understood to be questioning Kundra at one of these premises, according to PTI sources.
The May 2022 money laundering case originates from two FIRs and chargesheets filed by Mumbai police against businessman Raj Kundra and others. Kundra and several co-accused were arrested during the investigation and later granted bail.
This is the second money laundering case against Raj Kundra. Earlier this year, the ED had seized assets worth ₹98 crore belonging to Kundra and his wife, Shilpa Shetty, in a cryptocurrency case. However, the Bombay High Court later provided relief to the couple by overturning the seizure order.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) claims the ‘Hotshots’ app was used by the accused to upload and stream obscene content. However, businessman Raj Kundra told a Mumbai court in 2021 that no evidence linked the app to any illegal activity. Kundra argued he was being made a scapegoat, adding that he was not named in the initial FIR and was later implicated by police.
The probe was initiated after two women filed FIR with Mumbai police and another complaint lodged at Lonavla police station. During investigations, police said aspiring actors were promised roles in web series or short films. At auditions, they were allegedly coerced into performing bold scenes that later became semi-nude or nude, often against their consent.
Police also found WhatsApp chats on Kundra’s phone discussing Kenrin, the app’s owner, and financial transactions. The chats allegedly revealed plans to sell 119 adult films for $1.2 million, according to officials.
