Indian Authorities Raid Shilpa Shetty’s Husband’s Properties in Pornography, Money Laundering Cases

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Mumbai: Indian authorities have intensified their probe into businessman Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided 15 properties, including Kundra’s residence in Juhu. The raids are part of ongoing investigations into pornography production, distribution, and alleged money laundering schemes.The ED’s investigation stems from a money laundering case registered in May 2022, which links back to an FIR filed by Mumbai police in 2021. Authorities accuse Kundra of operating a pornography racket through subscription-based mobile apps like Hotshots and HotHit Movies. These apps, initially developed by Kundra’s firm Armsprime Media, were later transferred to his brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi’s UK-based company.

Beyond the pornography allegations, the ED is also probing Kundra’s alleged involvement in a 2017 Bitcoin investment scam, which defrauded investors of approximately ₹66 billion. The scheme promised high monthly returns through Bitcoin mining but allegedly misappropriated funds, hiding stolen Bitcoins in obscure wallets. In April 2024, the ED provisionally attached Kundra’s assets worth ₹977.9 million under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These include a luxury apartment in Mumbai’s Juhu area, a bungalow in Pune, and equity shares. The Juhu property, registered in Shilpa Shetty’s name, is under scrutiny for its financial links to Kundra’s alleged activities.

Kundra’s legal troubles date back to February 2021, when a raid on a Madh Island bungalow revealed its use for shooting pornographic films. In July 2021, Kundra was arrested as a key conspirator and spent two months in Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail before securing bail in September of the same year. The ED’s current operations aim to uncover additional evidence, focusing on financial transactions, international money flows, and potential concealment of funds. Properties linked to Kundra’s associates are also being searched, as the agency investigates overseas connections. The raids signify an escalation in the government’s efforts to address financial crimes and illicit digital content distribution, with Kundra remaining a central figure in the controversy.