MUMBAI/LUCKNOW: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted searches at multiple locations across Uttar Pradesh, including Kanpur, Gorakhpur, and Kushinagar, as well as 11 sites in Mumbai, in connection with a money laundering case involving Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.
The case relates to allegations of pornography production and distribution through digital platforms.
The searches continued till late at night.
The ED has already secured Shetty’s Juhu property, asserting that Kundra utilised proceeds of crime for purchasing properties. The ED had investigated the flat purchase deal which Kundra had sold to his wife and had attached it in the case. Shetty’s lawyer Prashant Patil clarified: “There is no raid on Shilpa Shetty Kundra as she has nothing to do with any offence of whatsoever nature.”
The probe centres on allegations that Kundra facilitated streaming adult videos through Hotshots app, which has since been removed from mobile platforms by Apple and Google.
Operating from his Viaan Industries office, Kundra reportedly managed the UK-based company’s content supply. His IT director, Ryan Thorpe, supervised the app’s operations and financial dealings.
Kundra informed authorities that he had sold the Hotshots app in 2019 and established Arms Prime Media.
In Kanpur, ED raided a flat in Shyam Nagar linked to Arvind Srivastava, an IIT-Kanpur graduate and engineer residing in Singapore, who allegedly managed production work for Kundra’s ventures.
Investigations revealed suspicious transactions exceeding Rs 2 crore in the bank account of Arvind’s wife, Harshita, between 2019 and 2021.
The account was opened in 2008. The ED suspects the funds may be connected to Kundra’s alleged digital network.
In Gorakhpur, ED questioned Atul Srivastava, a software company owner, regarding international transactions suspected to be linked to Kundra’s platforms.
The agency believes Atul provided technical support for digital operations. In Kushinagar’s Padrauna area, ED teams searched the premises of Pramod Srivastava and another suspect.
Both individuals are believed to have assisted in managing digital operations for Kundra’s ventures.
Kundra, however, has denied the allegations, claiming no direct involvement in creating the content. He has accused investigators of falsely implicating him and making him a scapegoat.
Kundra was arrested in 2021 in the adult content case and later granted bail.