Police custody of Raj Kundra extended till 27 July; Shilpa Setty records statement

July 23: The police custody of businessman Raj Kundra, arrested in a pornographic films case, was on Friday extended till July 27. On Tuesday, a Mumbai court remanded him to police custody till 23 July, which was, however, extended for another 4 days on Friday.

Businessman and actress Shilpa Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra was arrested earlier this week in a case involving pornographic films. The case was registered against Kundra for creating and publishing pornographic films on certain apps. Raj Kundra, who had earlier arrived at his residence in Juhu with the Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch team, has left his home. They were there to conduct fresh raids. Raj has been charged under Sections 420 (cheating), 34 (common intention), 292, and 293 (related to obscene and indecent advertisements and displays) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and relevant sections of the IT Act and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.

His wife and actress Shilpa Shetty was quizzed by property cell on the porn racket and her statement was recorded on Friday. The Mumbai Crime Branch also wants to probe bank accounts of Shilpa Shetty to check if the financial proceeds from the app subscription, were then parked into her Shilpa Shetty’s accounts or not. The police have explained that Kundra’s Mumbai-based firm Vivaan Industries was involved with UK-based company Kenrin Pvt Ltd which has been under the police’s scanner since February 2021. Kenrin Pvt Ltd is a production firm that is owned by Raj Kundra’s brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi. Shilpa Shetty is one of the directors of Viaan Industries.

Kenrin Pvt Ltd owns the ‘Hotshots’ phone application on which pornographic content was streamed. Raj Kundra’s brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi has been named as a wanted accused in the case. According to Mumbai Police, Raj Kundra’s WhatsApp chats reveal he was discussing a deal to sell 121 porn videos for 1,2 million US dollar. This deal seems to be on the international level, police added.

As per a report by HT, the racket was busted on February 4, when an official of the property cell raided a bungalow in Madh area, Malad (West) and arrested five accused of their alleged involvement in luring young women and men on the pretext of offering roles into web series and short films. They allegedly forced them to act in a pornographic film instead.

Earlier in 2013, Raj Kundra was questioned by the Delhi Police in connection with the betting and spot-fixing scandal that engulfed Indian cricket.