Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned businessman Raj Kundra, husband of actor Shilpa Shetty, in a money laundering case tied to the alleged illegal distribution of pornographic content, official sources confirmed on Sunday.
Kundra has been asked to appear before the investigating officer this week, alongside other individuals connected to the case, sources said.
The ED conducted raids on Kundra’s Mumbai premises and those of others in Uttar Pradesh on December 29. Kundra stated on Saturday that he has been "fully complying" with the ongoing investigation, which has spanned four years.
Shilpa Shetty's lawyer clarified that the actor is not a subject of the investigation, emphasizing that Kundra is "cooperating for the truth to come out."
The money laundering case, initiated in May 2022, stems from two FIRs and chargesheets filed by the Mumbai Police. Kundra and several others were previously arrested but were later granted bail.
This is the second money laundering case involving Kundra. Earlier this year, the ED attached assets worth ₹98 crore linked to Kundra and Shetty in a cryptocurrency case, but the Bombay High Court granted relief against this attachment order.
Kundra has consistently denied involvement in illegal activities. In 2021, he told a Mumbai court that there was no evidence connecting him to criminal offenses via the 'Hotshots' app, which was allegedly used for uploading and streaming pornographic content.
The Mumbai Police’s investigation revealed that small-time actors were allegedly lured under the guise of auditions and subsequently coerced into performing semi-nude or nude scenes, which were then uploaded to platforms like Hotshots.
Police further alleged that Kundra established Armsprime Media Pvt Ltd, which purchased the Hotshots app through London-based Kenrin Pvt Ltd to distribute objectionable videos. WhatsApp chats retrieved from Kundra’s phone reportedly disclosed discussions about selling 119 adult films for $1.2 million.
Kundra has claimed he is being falsely implicated and has described himself as a "scapegoat" in the case.
With PTI inputs