ED Raids Raj Kundra’s Residence in Pornography-Linked Money Laundering Probe
- Posted on November 29, 2024
- News
- By Arijit Dutta
- 33 Views
The ED raided Raj Kundra’s residence as part of a money-laundering probe tied to a 2021 pornography case. The investigation focuses on tracing illegal earnings and potential violations under the PMLA, with searches conducted across Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh. Kundra denies involvement in producing explicit content.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday launched a series of raids targeting businessman Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, and others in connection with a money-laundering investigation tied to the production and distribution of pornographic content. Search operations were conducted at around 15 locations across Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh.
The investigation stems from a 2021 case initiated by the Mumbai Crime Branch, which accused Kundra of operating an illegal pornographic content network through mobile applications. Kundra was arrested in July 2021 under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. He was later released on bail but has remained under scrutiny due to allegations of financial irregularities linked to the scandal.
The ED’s probe aims to trace the financial trail of earnings allegedly generated through the illegal content, examining potential violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Authorities are investigating whether funds were laundered through multiple layers of transactions to obscure their origin.
Kundra, who has consistently denied involvement in producing or distributing pornographic content, maintained that he was not the primary operator of the mobile apps in question. His legal team previously argued that the content was "erotic" but not pornographic, challenging the basis of the charges.
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This is not Kundra’s first brush with controversy, as he has faced criticism and legal action in the past for his business dealings. The latest ED raids mark a significant escalation in the ongoing investigation, with more details expected as the inquiry progresses.
