Raj Kundra’s controversy: The revelation that Raj Kundra was involved in an adult film racketeering case sent Shilpa Shetty Kundra’s life into disarray. An FIR was filed when the matter was discovered in February. After a five-month investigation, police detained Raj Kundra and eleven others for the alleged publication and creation of videos that were distributed through paid smartphone apps such as Hotshots.
During the course of the probe, other charges were purportedly made against Kundra, including that he had threatened new hires. The matter, however, took an unexpected turn this month when Raj Kundra was released on bail. In his bail application, Raj reportedly claimed that he was framed and that no proof linked him to the distribution or production of pornographic material. The bail for Raj has been set at $20,000, however
Here’s the timeline of Raj Kundra’s controversy
The actress was recently interviewed and asked about her husband’s arrest on charges of his involvement in the creation and distribution of pornographic material. Even Shilpa got drawn into the fray. Shilpa avoided discussing the incident itself but did discuss the time period in which it occurred.
Arrest
Until July 23rd, Raj Kundra remained in judicial prison after his arrest on the 19th in Mumbai. Aspiring actresses from all around the country were allegedly contacted under the guise of offering them roles in web series, only to blackmail them into revealing private information about themselves.
It is important to remember that it was Raj’s former employee Umesh Kamat’s arrest by the property cell that allegedly revealed Raj’s involvement with the scam. Raj Kundra, according to the Mumbai Police Department, was a “major conspirator” in this incident.
No involvement of Shilpa Shetty found
In a series of tweets posted several days following Kundra’s arrest, Joint Commissioner of Police Milind Bharambe made a statement. Further, he stated that no evidence against Shilpa had been discovered at that point. It was reported in February that pornographic video distribution was an offence in Mumbai, India and that the case was officially opened by the Crime Branch.
Evidence suggests that independent musicians and filmmakers were enticed into working on web series by promising them commercial breaks. They were pressured into performing sexually suggestive scenarios that they found deeply offensive. We’ve taken down producers like Raj Kundra’s India operations manager Umesh Kamat (who also happens to be a producer).
‘Hotshots’ app content was developed and maintained by Viaan. The evidence we uncovered in the course of the raid was sufficient to justify the apprehension of Kundra. There is currently no evidence of Shilpa Shetty’s involvement in any major productions. We have opened an investigation. We’ll make a plea for the victims to report it to the Crime Branch in Mumbai. He assured ANI that the proper steps will be taken.
Read More: Chinmayi Controversy: Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Tamil Poet Vairamuthu!
Gehana Vashisht supports Raj Kundra
In the wake of Raj Kundra’s arrest, Gehana, who was one of the nine members in the pornographic cell to be arrested by the property cell, came out in favour of him. She asked, “Please don’t lump together bold and erotica films. Since both Raj Kundra and I were detained in connection with the same crime, we are both currently subject to the same inquiry.
I’m familiar with the products produced while Kundra was in charge. For Raj Kundra’s app, I have starred in three films in the role of heroine. Not once did he ever make me do anything against my will, and I was always paid fairly. I was satisfied with both the labour and the compensation I received.
Sagarika Shona Suman’s allegation
Sagarika later alleged that Raj had given her a part in a web series he was creating, among other severe charges. I’ve been working as a model for almost four years now. The truth is that I have not exactly been slacking off. I would want to tell you about certain events that occurred during the lockdown.
On the phone in August of 2020, Umesh Kamat Ji offered me a role in a Raj Kundra-owned and -produced online series. When I inquired about Raj Kundra, he informed me that Shilpa Shetty is married to him. As soon as I logged onto the video call, he started demanding that I perform an audition.
Dismayed, I declined their offer. There were three participants on the video call, and one of them had their face obscured. “I desire that if he is involved in such things, he gets caught and such a racket is revealed,” she was reported as adding.
Raj Kundra’s lawyer’s statement
Since “actual intercourse” is considered “porn” and everything else is just “vulgar content,” Kundra’s attorney Abad Ponda objected to classifying content as “pornography” and stated that it was incorrect to apply Section 67A of the Information Technology Act on sending obscene material in electronic form with sections in the Indian Penal Code that deal with pornography. While all was going on, Raj Kundra’s detention was extended.
Raid at Shilpa and Raj’s House
They said the criminal section raided Raj and Shilpa‘s Juhu flat. At some point during the operation, the criminal investigation division reportedly escorted Raj Kundra back to his home. Shilpa was also under scrutiny because she had resigned as director of Viaan industries. The police department also recorded her statement.
Sherlyn Chopra’s Statement and Poonam Pandey’s Claims
After Kundra’s arrest, Sherlyn made a public statement in which she claimed to be the first individual this year to provide a non-confrontational statement to the Maharashtra Cyber Cell. She allegedly also stated that she was the one who reported the business Armsprime,
which was associated with Raj Kundra in the alleged porn case, to the cyber cell. However, Poonam Pandey stated that Raj Kundra had exploited her to the point that her personal information had been made public.
Read More: Koffee with Karan Controversy: Celebrities Who Regretted Their Tv Comments Later Apologised!
Shilpa Shetty’s Statement
Shilpa also gave a statement in the case, in which she denied any involvement in the making of pornographic recordings, and this testimony was also videotaped. An anonymous police source told Mid-Day, “She (Shilpa Shetty) maintained that the movies available on Hotshot but erotica.”
She added, “And identical content is available on the other OTT platforms today, and in fact, some are more obscene than what’s available on Hotshot.” Soon after, the Mumbai police department began looking into Raj and Shilpa’s joint bank accounts. According to the press, Raj had disposed of his previous phone out of fear of having his data recovered, probably because he expected to be arrested soon.
Interim Relief Denied to Raj Kundra
Despite the fact that Raj Kundra’s attorney had requested bail in the case on July 27, the High Court refused to grant him any temporary relief on the grounds that the pornographic racket involves many powerful persons besides Suman. Furthermore, Sagarika stated that in December 2020, Hotshots App has offered her Rs 1 million for a thirty-minute live show.
Sherlyn Chopra Accuses Raj Kundra of Sexual Assault
Sherlyn Chopra made another bombshell accusation against Raj Kundra in March 2019, this time saying that he had sexually assaulted her. She stated that Kundra had initially reached out to her about a potential job opportunity, but then showed up at her door unannounced to settle a dispute they had had over text. If what Sherlyn said is true, Kundra “started kissing her even if she fought,” as Sherlyn put it.
Shilpa Shetty Moves To HC Against Defamatory Content Published in Media
The actress had petitioned the Bombay High Court to block any further publication of derogatory material about Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty online. She had requested an apology in addition to having the defamatory material removed. News coverage by media outlets citing police sources was deemed not to be derogatory by the court while her case proceeded.
Raj Kundra’s Bail Rejected
As of August, Raj Kundra’s bail application had been denied for a second time. The court issued an extensive ruling explaining its decision, writing, “One of the grounds for refusing or granting bail is the nature of the offence and the gravity of the offence.” This purported crime has repercussions that touch on the general populace. In addition to being harmful to our society as a whole, the claimed offence is also illegal.
Raj Kundra Gets Interim Relief from Bombay Court
In August, Raj Kundra asked the court for release in advance of the trial. On August 18th, he received a temporary respite from the court’s ruling.
Crime Branch Files Charge Sheet Against Raj Kundra
On September 15, the Mumbai crime branch reportedly presented a 1500-page supplemental charge sheet against Kundra in the pornographic case before the Esplanade court. Raj Kundra’s friend Ryan Thorpe was named on the charge sheet as well.
Shilpa Shetty Claims Not to Be Aware of What Raj Was Up To
Shilpa Shetty, who has been under surveillance for quite some time, recently discussed the subject and said she had no idea what Raj Kundra was up to. For personal reasons, I had to resign from my position as a director of Viaan Industries Limited, which Kundra founded in 2015.
The Hotshots and Bollyfame apps are not the ones I am familiar with. She was quoted as saying, “I was too occupied with my own business and, as a result, was unaware of what Kundra was up to.”
Raj Kundra claims To Be a Scapegoat in The Case
Raj Kundra has taken his bail plea to the Metropolitan Court, claiming that he is being set up as a scapegoat and that the additional charge sheet fails to provide any evidence that he had any hand in the production of the allegedly illegal material. In addition, he had gone to court, saying that the investigation had essentially concluded.
Read More: Munawar Faruqui Controversy: Lock Upp Contestant Breaks Silence on His 2021 Show Controversy!
Raj Kundra Gets Bail
Almost two months after being arrested, on September 20 this year, Raj Kundra was released on bail with a 50,000 rupee surety. As it turns out, neither Raj Kundra nor Ryan Thorpe had any trouble getting out on bail.
Check Here for More Updates: BulletinXP
