Mumbai: Businessman Raj Kundra sold his Juhu flat, valued at Rs 80 crore, to his actor wife Shilpa Shetty for Rs 38 crore in 2022 after the ED (Enforcement Directorate) initiated a probe against him in a money laundering case.

The ED suspects it was an internal arrangement of the couple to avoid the property’s attachment and it believes that Kundra is still the flat’s real owner, said sources.

On Thursday, the ED issued a press release stating that Kundra received 285 bitcoins from the mastermind and promoter of the Gain Bitcoin ponzi scam, Amit Bhardwaj (now deceased), for setting up a bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine. “The said bitcoins were sourced from the proceeds of crime collected by Bhardwaj from gullible investors. Since the deal didn’t materialize, Kundra is still in possession and enjoyment of 285 bitcoins, which are presently valued at more than Rs 150 crore,s” said the agency.

The ED believe that the bitcoins are still in Kundra’s possession but since he is not disclosing it, the agency is attaching his properties whose value is equivalent to that of the bitcoins. The ED is inquiring about Kundra’s other properties after attaching his bungalow in Pune, along with equity shares in his name and Shetty’s Juhu flat, collectively worth Rs 97.8 crores.

The attached properties are not directly connected to the proceeds of the crime and the ED may call Shetty to get her statement in the case.

Kundra and Shetty’s PR refused to comment on the allegation related to the Juhu flat transaction. The couple’s advocate, Prashant Patil, said Kundra had not received a single bitcoin as alleged by the ED. “There is no prima facie case made out against my clients Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty Kundra. We have faith in a fair investigation. We stand committed to cooperating with the authorities as and when required,” he said.

Earlier, Kundra had told the ED in his statement that he had provided consultancy services to Bhardwaj for bitcoin mining. He had said the Bhardwaj brothers—Amit and Ajay—through his bitcoin wallet, had transferred the cryptocurrency into another wallet and that he didn’t know the recipient.

The Pune-based Bhardwaj brothers promoted Variabletech Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based company, and controlled gainbitcoin.com and lured investors by promising good returns. Through gainbitcoin.com, the brothers collected cryptocurrency equivalent to Rs 6,600 crore from investors, defaulted on the payment and concealed the ill-gotten bitcoins in obscure online wallets. The investors filed police cases against the Bhardwaj brothers at various places a few years ago, based on which the ED registered the money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has allegedly attached properties belonging to Raj Kundra and his wife, actress Shilpa Shetty, worth about Rs 97.79 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a Bitcoin investment fraud case. According to ED sources, the attached properties include a residential flat in Juhu, currently registered under Shilpa’s name, a residential bungalow in Pune, and equity shares in Kundra’s name all worth about Rs 97.79 crore.

Kundra, who spent two months in jail in connection with a pornography case, was granted bail in September 2021. The latest action by the ED is part of a money laundering case filed against Kundra based on multiple FIRs registered by Maharashtra and Delhi Police against M/s Variable Tech Pvt Ltd, including Amit Bhardwaj, Ajay Bhardwaj, Vivek Bhardwaj, Simp Bhardwaj, Mahender Bhardwaj, and several multi-level marketing agents.

The FIRs allege that the accused collected significant funds in Bitcoins, approximately worth Rs 6,600 crore, from the public with false promises of a 10 per cent monthly return in Bitcoins.

According to ED sources, Kundra received 285 Bitcoin from Amit, the mastermind and promoter of the Gain Bitcoin Ponzi scam, for setting up a Bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine. These Bitcoins were sourced from proceeds of crime collected by Amit from unsuspecting investors.

Despite the deal falling through, Kundra did not return the 285 Bitcoins, presently valued at over Rs. 150 crores. Earlier search operations led to the arrest of three individuals—Simpy Bhardwaj, Nitin Gaur, and Nikhil Mahajan—who are currently in judicial custody. The main accused, Ajay and Mahendra, are still evading law enforcement. This marks the second attachment in the case, with earlier properties worth Rs. 69 crores being attached by the ED.

Amid struggling while standing on our heels and balancing on one leg, we remind ourselves how to recruit our muscles correctly; Shilpa Shetty, in turn, reminds us to train attention to our breath appropriately. This fitness icon, we quickly learn, has truly nabbed the ability to integrate physical and mental fitness

It’s what Shetty later tells us too, as we get talking about her athletic practices. “Chance pe dance,” she says with her quintessential laugh, letting us in on the fact that since she had to miss her practice on the given day to make herself available for this conversation, she took the opportunity to meditate when she could.

Laymen would wonder how much five minutes of meditative work could contribute to keeping Shetty—two years shy of turning 50 years old—looking better than many do in their 30s. In the same vein, they’d ponder about the effectiveness of the 15-minute bit-sized workout routines that many media houses conjure up and sell as ‘Shilpa’s fitness regimen’, based on an innocuous picture she may share on social media.

Just as we get on the mat to do ‘some’ yoga with Shetty—well aware that the assorted exercises will do nothing to contribute to our wellness—the actor knows that the sprinkling of content online may do little to address the needs of confounded viewers. It’s precisely why she discusses the importance of learning about the science of fitness, on more occasions than one.

“I want to befriend people who are fit, because a fit person is one who is working on themselves, is consistent, and respects his or her body. A person who respects himself will respect me. A fit person is not someone who only looks lean; it is someone who takes the time out to understand what they need to feed their bodies to feel a certain way,” she says, adding that one aspect that “irritates” her when it comes to her portrayal as a fitness icon is how frivolously people used the word ‘blessed’ when discussing her athletic prowess.

“People think it comes easy to me. Raj [Kundra, husband] has been privy to the fact that I can put on weight, like any normal person does. After a certain age, you deal with hormonal issues, and [are] perimenopausal. Many women [endure] it, and I am no different. I have a full-time job, and am a ‘full-time mother’ with kids who have an eight-year age gap. People think it’s easy for me to contort my body, but I still struggle with some asanas. For example, an asana like the paschimotanasan is so simple, but it’s still one I can’t get into as easily as I’d like to. I too have issues with being consistent. Raj [Panigrahi, trainer] has seen me cry with frustration. But, you need to have the will to learn and put in the time. If people call me blessed, it’s because I am blessed with the ability to believe that yoga can cure me.”

It was following her stint at Big Brother, where the world saw her practice yoga routinely during her stay in the house, that Shetty knew she wanted to be an advocate for the discipline. Lamenting that the meditative form rarely draws young individuals, she says, “People think you should do yoga as you grow older. But, yoga will slow down the ageing process in the first place.” Pointing to herself, she laughs, “The proof is in the pudding!”

This is one of those rare occasions when she attaches her physical appeal to her wellness practice. “When I began to practice yoga, people would compliment me on the way I look, which is shallow. I wanted to focus on how it made me feel, and how I achieved that. I believe in the science of yoga, and adhere to ayurvedic nutritional practices. Yog a is a deep-rooted science that can change your alignment. Hours of meditation can put you off medication. How we continue to be apathetic to such a great gift for quick fixes [is beyond me].”

Five years after we first broached the subject of wellness with Shetty, it is evident that her ability to integrate her approach towards physical and mental wellness is superior to many.

“It’s not just about exercise; it’s about how you live, what you say, how you think, and how you eat. I want to live my life like people did 70 years ago—eat when you are hungry, and chew your food 32 times. They say, you should drink your food, and eat your water.”

In the last few years, the yogic postures that filled Shetty’s social media feeds began to be punctuated with images of her lifting weights. She shares that resistance training is something she turned to at the age of 43.

“As you age, you begin to lose muscle mass. Also, weight-training is important when you want your jeans to fit in a certain way, and want your glutes and quads to appear more shaped. I take to it for my cinematic outings too, like I did while working on Indian Police Force. I wanted my kicks to look powerful enough. Of late, my approach to fitness involves weight training, and goal-oriented yoga. I want to do a handstand. In a few years, I will be 50. At 60, I want to be the best that I have been. By then, perhaps, I’ll start walking on my hand! Every year, Raj and I set goals on what we want to achieve, and that plays a big role [in retaining my athleticism].”

A beautiful family, a thriving business, a lavish lifestyle — it came down like a pack of cards for Raj Kundra on September 21, 2021. That’s when the businessman was arrested for the alleged creation and distribution of pornographic films through apps. Three years later, the 48-year-old still awaits normalcy. 

“The perception is made; damage is done,” Raj tells us. He elaborates on how it hurts to be termed the ‘porn king’ on social media. “It happened because I’m married to a celebrity (actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra),” he says, adding, “I feel they (trolls) aren’t getting at me, but my wife and kids. It’s unfair that Shilpa had to bear the brunt of it. You attack me, no issues; not my family.” Despite all his efforts to “delete and block trolls”, Raj and his family face negativity online. “The last thing I want is my wife and kids reading terms like this. The trolls don’t know the facts,” he adds. 

The UK-born businessman claims he got involved because his company provided services to a company called Kenrin, owned by his brother-in-law. And Kenrin owns the app Hotshots, which came under the scanner. “Gehna Vasisth (actor who was also arrested in the same case) claimed that cops forced her to give a statement. It would have been easy for her to say ‘Raj ne karaya’ and walk free. But she didn’t, and I appreciate that,” he asserts.

Raj acted in and produced UT 69 (2023), a film based on his experiences during the trial. He continues to wait for justice. “[Now] I am waiting for my discharge, clean chit to come. My case is at a point where it’s reserved for order. I got bail from the lower court, so I’m fighting from there. Whatever I have been accused of, I am not guilty of any of it,” he ends.

When Raj Kundra was granted bail in September 2021, he considered writing a book chronicling his days in prison. But it was a story meant for the screen, believed director-friend Shahnawaz Ali. After Kundra was convinced about making an acting debut with UT 69, the next step was to get his actor-wife Shilpa Shetty Kundra on board with the idea.

“I had made notes inside the jail. Shahnawaz and Vikram Bhatt [UT 69 writer] thought they should be turned into a film instead of a memoir. I told them, ‘Are you mad? My wife and I have gone through so much. She would be annoyed!’ But they were persistent, so I made them speak to Shilpa. She was clear that the film will have nothing about the case. She said as long as that was in place, my story was important and needed to be told,” recollects Kundra.

In July 2021, the businessman was booked under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act, and Information Technology Act for allegedly distributing and transmitting pornographic videos. He was granted anticipatory bail by the Supreme Court after serving one-and-a-half months in Arthur Jail. Kundra says Shetty’s inner strength saw them through the tough times.

“Initially, Shilpa couldn’t handle it because all my businesses were shut down overnight. When I [was released], I was broken. I’d be shaking half the time [in fear]. Shilpa helped me; she got me a psychiatrist. I was put on medication. When I was in jail, I knew she was hurt. She would write that to me in the letters we exchanged then, but she also sympathized with what I went through. She is a Devi for me. She also did things she didn’t believe she could. I apologized to her as she had to go through this because of me.”

As soon as the trailer of UT 69 was unveiled, many suggested it was made to gain public sympathy. Kundra rubbishes the notion, saying, “In the trailer, I’m being called ‘Shilpa ka pati’ and ‘Porn king’. This is a story beyond me. It’s about the system, the overcrowded jails, and human rights violations that are going on inside.”

Businessman Raj Kundra is throwing his weight behind an upcoming film project inspired by his prison time in Mumbai. In September 2021, Kundra found himself embroiled in controversy over his alleged involvement in the creation and distribution of explicit content through mobile apps.

Speculation had been rife that this film would mark his debut as an actor, but it appears that this is not the case. Sources close to the project clarify: “Such claims are purely speculative. However, he may make a special appearance.”

The source adds, “The project does not revolve around the controversy or its origins. Instead, it will just focus on his time in jail, delving into his interactions within the prison and his personal reflections.” 

Many aspects of the project remain shrouded in mystery, including the timeline. “Raj will actively participate in all facets of the project. Casting and the director have yet to be finalised, but it’s been suggested that stand-up comic Munawar Faruqui may feature, albeit not in a leading role,” the source says. The film is slated to commence production early next year.

In 1993, actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra made her movie debut with Baazigar. It’s Shilpa’s thirtieth year in showbiz, however, as she claims her popularity has only increased over the years. Shilpa who returns to the judging panel of India's Got Talent, talks at length about thirty years in the industry and being a working mother.

With schools reopening, Shilpa’s days start as early as seven. “Both my kids have started going to school. My days are getting pretty hectic with the kids growing up. I am trying to fit most of the things in a day,” says Shilpa who recently returned from a family holiday. For rest, it may be exciting, but not for Shilpa. “It is anything but exciting. It is a lot of work. I am overworked and underpaid,” she says. Underpaid for sure? Pat comes the reply, “Maybe not underpaid (laughs) overworked for sure.”

While Shilpa is inching towards her 30 years of celebration, retrospection is something that she doesn’t believe in. “I am someone who does not go in the past. The only time I reminisce about the past is when I have to use it as a lesson in the present day. It is your past that molds you as the person that you are. I do think how I get the love that I get from people. I feel happy and proud that I have carved a niche for myself in this plethora of talent,” she shares. “Living in the moment” is a mantra that she has followed all her life.

“Life is so unpredictable; you don’t know what is in store for you. I don’t think about the past or the future. I am happy where and who I am. I am a very pragmatic person. I believe that everything happens for the best, even the worst happens for a reason.”

As Shilpa looks back, the India's Got Talent judge talks about the poetic justice of life. “I feel there is poetic justice in life, always. I was never in the top 10 actors (list). I may have received a lot of love and adulation but never counted in the top 10 actors – maybe lack of opportunity, or what I don’t know. Today look at me; I am doing the biggest series, I have just finished filming a movie, I am doing a multilingual movie, I have nothing to complain about today. We all have our journey, I have carved a niche on TV, my brands are doing well,” she states.

There are rumours that Shilpa’s husband Raj Kundra is making a movie based on his life and his time in jail (he was arrested for allegedly creating pornographic content). The buzz is that he will act in the film and produce it. Ask Shilpa about it, and she says, “It’s not my place to say anything.”

Stepping out of Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail in May after 26 months felt nothing short of a “miracle” for Ajaz Khan. He was detained by the NCB at the Mumbai airport in connection with a drug case in 2021 and was arrested in March same year.

Talking about his time in jail for over two years, he says, “One day feels like a year inside the jail. I don’t want to say anything about the person who made the case against me (refers to Sameer Wankhede), and the world is witnessing what’s happening to him. I wish him good luck. I was considered guilty even before the verdict was pronounced. I was finally granted bail by the Supreme Court, but I was in jail for 26 months and I missed out on work and my son’s growing-up years.”

Speaking further about the tough life in jail, he shares, “The Arthur Road jail is probably the most crowded in the world with 3,500 people imprisoned against the capacity of 800 prisoners. Ek toilet mein 400 log jaate hain. Imagine the state of that toilet! I went through anxiety and depression. It was tough but I had to survive for my family, which comprises my 85-year-old father, wife and son. I met many people, including former state home minister Anil Deshmukh, Sanjay Raut, Armaan Kohli, Aryan Khan and Raj Kundra, inside the jail. You wouldn’t want even your enemy to go through this. I initially refused to meet my son as I didn’t want him to see me in prison, but met him eventually after six months, as I wanted him to know my story from me and become strong for the world. He is fine now and turning out to be a good footballer.”

The actor has written a book on his experience inside the jail. He shares, “It’s not just my story but of 3,500 prisoners and their ordeal. I want to turn it into a web series and will soon start approaching studios. My only condition is that I will play myself in it. Ideally for such a show, real prisoners who are out should be cast, as only they can depict the real ordeal.” He adds, “I also want to return to work with a good role. I have worked with big stars in the South. I will ask them for work, and I am sure they will offer me something.”

Ajaz vows to steer clear of controversies and focus on his family and work. He says, “I don’t want to get embroiled in controversies. I have a son to raise and my father to look after; my first responsibility is towards my family. I have now become Godfearing, humble and non-judgemental.”

The former Bigg Boss 7 contestant has had a few run-ins with the law in the past. He was accused of sending lewd messages to a model in June 2016 and was also alleged to be in possession of banned drugs in October 2018.

He says, “Where is the girl who accused me of sending her lewd messages? I should have been behind bars if it was true. About the second allegation, I was framed and that’s why I was released in 10 days. I believe that some people wanted to tarnish my image.”

He was also arrested in July 2019 for an objectionable post on social media and was in police custody for two days. He says, “I have learnt my lesson and will stay away from posting my opinions on social media.”

Currently in London, Shilpa Shetty Kundra is spending quality time with her family — husband Raj Kundra (47) and children Viaan (10) and Samisha (3). As the actor turns 48 today, she tells us that she will be holidaying for a while, with a short trip to India for a work commitment. “I will visit India briefly for the shoot of a reality show and will return to London after wrapping it up,” says Shilpa.

The actor proudly calls herself a “homebody” and says she doesn’t like to party, even on her birthday. “I end up going to parties because I am from the industry (showbiz) and I have so many friends. Toh parties mein mooh dikhana padta hai. But, I am the kind of person who likes to unwind with her kids, read them stories and have her dinner by 7 pm. I don’t want to have a party on my birthday. My family might have some plans, but as far as I know, it’s going to be a simple celebration,” says Shilpa.

Among all the birthdays she’s had so far, Shilpa considers her 40th the most memorable one: “My husband planned a party for me in Montenegro (Europe) and invited 40 of my friends. When I was on the way, I had no clue about the celebration. But I knew that my son wasn’t there, so I felt guilty as a mother. But by the time I got to the resort, I was surprised to see Viaan, my in-laws and parents. My father was also alive then. It was a beautiful celebration.”

Shilpa says since she had a busy 2022, taking some time off to be with her family was a must. “With Indian Police Force and Sukhee (her upcoming projects), I worked really hard last year. So, I needed to get out. London is my second home and there’s so much to do here with the kids. I just wait to do normal things and not be seen. We go strawberry picking and visiting theme parks with them. I am feeling rejuvenated. It’s great to not be looked at or judged,” admits the actor.

Raj Kundra, entrepreneur and husband of actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra, was granted relief in the pornography case on Tuesday. The Supreme Court granted him and four others anticipatory bail in the case. Others who were granted relief by the apex court include actors Sherlyn Chopra and Poonam Pandey. An FIR was filed against the five for allegedly distributing pornographic videos.

On Tuesday, a bench of Justices K M Joseph and B V Nagarathna also directed all the accused to cooperate in the investigation. “Having heard the counsel for the parties, we are of the view that the petitioners may be granted anticipatory bail,” the bench said.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had granted Kundra interim protection from arrest in the case. He was arrested in July 2021, after an FIR was registered against Raj and four others by a woman who approached the police and made certain allegations. The case was transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch. Raj was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating), 292 and 293 (related to obscene and indecent advertisements and displays) and sections of the Information Technology Act and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. The report also named Sherlyn Chopra and Poonam Pandey as co-accused.

Kundra was released on bail later in the year. His lawyers claimed that he was in no way connected to content creation, publication or transmission of alleged illegal videos.

Since his bail, Kundra has kept a low profile and only appears in public wearing full face masks. In September, he reacted to the case with a social media post. Sharing a picture of himself, Raj captioned the post, “One Year Today released from #ArthurRoad Its a matter of time Justice will be served! The truth will be out soon!”

Mumbai: Businessman Raj Kundra, model Sherlyn Chopra, Poonam Pandey and film producer Meeta Jhunjhunwala and cameraman connived with each other shot obscene/porn videos in two five star hotels in the suburbs and circulated the content on various OTT platform for financial consideration, says a chargesheet by Maharashtra Cyber police on Friday.

Police said that Kundra, director of Armsprime Media limited was involved in production and distribution of pornographic videos.

In 2019, the cyber police had registered an offence under section 292 (sale of obscene material) and under Information Technology Act against unknown persons after a Custom and Central excise officer lodged a complaint that some websites were uploading obscene content on the internet.

The police on Friday submitted a 450-page chargesheet against models Sherlyn Chopra, Poonam Pandey, cameraman Raju Dubey, Jhunjhunwala, Banana prime OTT director Suvajit Choudhary, Kundra of Armsprime Media Private Limited and his employee Umesh Kamat.

In the chargesheet, police have named Poonam Pandey, Sherlyn Chopra’s obscene videos were found uploaded/ released on various OTT platforms . Suvajit Choudhary, director of Banana Prime - the OTT platform is accused of producing web series Prem Paglami containing porn content and uploading on his OTT, the chargesheet said.

In the chargesheet, police have stated that Poonam Pandey (39), with help of Kundra's company, developed her own mobile app and got her obscene videos shot in five star hotels in suburbs and got them uploaded and circulated. It states that accused cameraman Raju Dubey shot the videos of Chopra, knowing that it amounts to crime.

Film writer and producer Meeta Jhunjhunawala, business head and celebrity management of Arms Prime, had aided and abetted in directing and scripting stories for Chopra. Similarly, model Poonam Pandey made a business agreement with Armsprime and made her own mobile app ‘The Poonam Pandey’ and uploaded obscene content on the OTT platform.

“Of all these, Armsprime company got financial benefits from all these accused and hence the company has aided and abetted in the crime,” the chargesheet said.

Police are looking for few models who worked in porn films/web series but have gone underground since the case was registered.

Police have also chargesheeted Umesh Kamat who was manager for the London based company-Hotshot, owned by Kundra's brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi’s company Kenrin, registered in the United Kingdom.

Businessman Raj Kundra recently opened up about his arrest in the pornography case in 2021, during an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on Twitter.

A user tweeted, “How did you get arrested? I mean how were you trapped? Was some ransom asked... #AskRaj.” Responding to this, he said, “This will come out soon! #corruption #vendetta #rivalry. One thing I can assure my well-wishers is I have never participated in or produced anything PORNOGRAPHIC in my life (sic).”

Another user asked, “Sir, kya aap ab bhi Porn movies m business karte ho (sic)?”, to which Kundra replied, “Never have, never will.”

The 47-year-old also addressed rumours of him parting ways with wife, actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra: “Love is no act and cannot be staged. 13th year anniversary on 22nd November, don’t forget to wish us.”

Kundra was also asked about his unique masks he is often seen sporting, to which he responded, “I am not wearing it for public. Just don’t wish to give media a chance to click my face! I am hurt by the media trial they put me through! Media is not above the law!”

Kundra had earlier approached the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), claiming he was being framed in the case. He wrote a letter to the central agency and said, “A handful of corrupt individuals spoil the name of the whole organisation. It’s just a matter of time now!”

Businessman Raj Kundra has written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), claiming innocence in the pornography racket case and alleging that senior officers of the Mumbai Crime Branch had framed him. He has requested the CBI to investigate the case.

Raj Kundra, the husband of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, claimed that the entire case was built on personal vendetta of one businessman who connived with certain police officers to get him arrested. He has been accused of being the kingpin of the racket. mid-day has learnt that Kundra has named officers in his complaint letter to the CBI, and addressed it to the prime minister’s office as well.

Kundra, who was accused of making pornographic films and airing them on Hotshot app, has maintained that the app belonged to his brother-in-law and did not contain porn. In the letter, he also denied any involvement with the accused in the case, and added that only he is being targeted in the case.

The businessman said that certain officers of the Mumbai Crime Branch did everything to frame him in the case even though his name was there in the 4,000-page original charge sheet. Every witness in the case was pressured to testify against him, he alleged. Sources told mid-day that Kundra has told the CBI that he can share details of many such witnesses who will testify to the same.

According to the complaint letter, the accused police officers had invested their black money with the businessman allegedly behind framing Kundra. A source read an excerpt from Kundra’s letter: “I have lived in silence for one year; ripped apart by a media trial and spent 63 days in Arthur Road Jail. I seek justice from the courts, which I know I will get, and I humbly request an investigation against these officers.”

Kundra was arrested July 19 along with his employee Ryan Thorpe for allegedly running a pornography racket. The then Mumbai police commissioner Hemant Nagrale had told the media that he is the key conspirator in the case. Kundra and Thorpe got bail on September 19 last year. Recently, he filed a discharge application before Killa court and claimed that he is innocent and had nothing to do with the shooting of pornographic or obscene contents as alleged by the prosecution.

“There is not a single allegation in the entire  supplementary charge sheet against the present applicant [Raj Kundra] that the he was actively involved in any of the video shootings or creating of the videos having pornographic content. In fact, it is a sole discretion of the individual artists to upload their contents on the App. All the agreements entered by the Artists are with arms-prime, the name of the applicant is nowhere mentioned in any such agreements for any purpose. The present applicant have not even shared any business views or have not been involved in any business transaction on such agreements or for uploading such content on the app by artists,” read his application.

The Mumbai Crime Branch has also filed its reply before the court opposing his discharge application saying that there is enough material against him. The matter is scheduled for final hearing on November 4. Kundra did not respond to the message  sent by mid-day for his comment. A senior officer of the Crime Branch, requesting anonymity, said he was not aware of any such complaint. “In the pornography case, we have filed a charge sheet and the matter is before the court, so it’s not appropriate for me to comment.”

On February 4, the Property Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch carried out raids at a bungalow in Malwani, Malad, where adult films were allegedly shot by forcing and threatening women. Police arrested five people and some others later. The police filed the first charge sheet on April 3 against nine accused. They arrested Kundra and Thorpe in July.

Almost 14 years after Apne (2007), she returned to movies last year with Hungama 2. But like her fans, Shilpa Shetty Kundra considers the upcoming Nikamma her comeback vehicle. “It’s a comeback of sorts because I haven’t graced the big screen in 14 years. Doing a massy entertainer is a high point for me,” she says. Nikamma, also starring Abhimanyu Dassani and Shirley Setia, is an official remake of the Telugu film, MCA Middle Class Abbayi (2017).

There was much excitement around her last release, Hungama 2. However, the OTT film turned out to be a damp squib. “That wasn’t supposed to be my [comeback] film, but I couldn’t say no because it was offered to me by the makers [Ratan Jain] who had [launched] me in Hindi movies. Plus, I always wanted to work with Priyan sir [Priyadarshan]. For me, the only takeaway was Chura Ke Dil Mera. There was a lot that was narrated, but didn’t make it to the screen. I think people were let down when they saw me in such a minuscule role,” she says.

Where she went missing from movies in the past decade, the actor became a frequent face on television, judging reality shows. She is now set to foray into the OTT world with Indian Police Force. Point out that she manages to stay relevant at 47, and Shetty says, “There isn’t any formula to stay relevant. You have to [see] what’s working around you, and give it your own tadka. Whatever I am doing today is to impress my children. It’s hard to impress this generation. After watching Nikamma, my son called me his favourite actor. That was a big compliment for me.”

The actor went through a trying phase last year when husband Raj Kundra was arrested in a pornography case. Shetty, who faced the situation with dignity, reflects, “The courage came from my immovable faith and patience.”

Mumbai: A Pune businessman has filed a police complaint against the owner of SFL Fitness Pvt Ltd and four others, including Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband, Raj Kundra, for duping him of Rs. 1.59 crore after luring him with the offer of opening a franchise of the fitness centre in Pune.

Nitin Barai (59) filed the complaint on Saturday, almost seven years after the deal was signed, after realising that the party with whom he had signed the agreement had duped him and failed to return the money he had invested to get the franchise. Barai’s son, Yash (25), alleged they were threatened when they demanded their money back.

The police said the contract agreement was signed in 2014. The police registered the FIR against director of SFL Fitness Kashiff Khan, Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra, Darshit Shah and a few others who were witnesses in the contract signed in 2014. A case under the IIPC sections 420 (cheating), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) was registered.

------------------------

Mumbai: Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and her businessman-husband Raj Kundra on Tuesday sent a legal notice to actress Sherlyn Chopra seeking Rs. 50 crore in damages for ruining their reputation by making “false and baseless” allegations against them. The notice, sent through their advocate Prashant Patil, also sought an unconditional public apology from Chopra in newspapers and on digital media platforms within seven days, failing which it warned of civil and criminal proceedings against her.

Both Kundra and Chopra are accused in a pornographic content case. Last month, he was granted bail by a Mumbai court after two months in jail. Last week, Chopra had filed a complaint at Juhu police station against Shetty and Kundra accusing them of committing fraud against her. She had also alleged harassment, cheating and criminal intimidation.

The notice said Chopra’s allegations are an “afterthought” as she is also an accused in the case. Shetty is no way connected or involved in the daily affairs of the Kundra-promoted JL Stream app, it said.

-----------------------

Days after actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra and businessman Raj Kundra’s lawyers warned actor Sherlyn Chopra of a defamation case, they’ve gone ahead with the suit. Chopra had filed a complaint against the couple for allegedly committing fraud against her and for mental harassment. Now, the couple has hit back with a defamation suit of Rs. 50 crore against her.

In a notice sent to Chopra by the couple, they claim that “entire allegations” made by Chopra are “concocted, false, fake, frivolous, baseless, without any evidence”.

It adds that they have been made with an “ulterior motive to defame and extort money”.

Furthermore, it says, “That, Ms Shilpa Shetty is not at all involved in any of the working affairs of the JL Stream App. It is nothing but an audacious attempt, by Ms Sherlyn to drag Ms Shilpa Shetty’s name to create unwanted controversy and gain media attention... we have complete faith in the Indian Judiciary, and we would be initiating civil/criminal proceedings against Ms Sherlyn Chopra... (sic)”

On October 14, Chopra, after filing the complaint, had also announced that she would reveal details about her allegations in a press conference. Replying to that, the couple’s lawyers sent a warning, saying, “Calling for a press conference to do this reflects a strong intention to commit an offence of defamation. Anything spoken by Miss Chopra in the public domain shall be held against her in the court of law...”

Mumbai: The property cell of the city crime branch on Thursday filed another chargesheet in the pornography case against actor and model Vandana Tiwari alias Gehana Vasisth and four others.

This is the fresh chargesheet in the second case of pornography registered by Mumbai Police. There are four cases of pornography crime branch is probing and another case is being probed by Lonavala police.

In the 500-page chargesheet, the police have charged Vashist, film producers Abhijit Bomble, Baburao Pralhad alias Ajay Shrimant, Prince Kumar alias Kashyap and Arvindkumar Srivastav alias Yash Thakur.

Police said Bomble and Shrimant have been arrested while Vasisth has got interim relief from Supreme Court while Prince Kumar Kashyap and Yash Thakur have been shown as ‘absconding accused’. They have been charged under the IPC sections involving sale of obscene books, obscene act, outraging modesty of woman, cheating and under sections of the Information Technology Act.

Last month, the police had filed supplementary chargesheet in the first case of pornography in which they had arrested Raj Kundra and his company’s IT head Ryan Thorpe in connection with production and distribution of pornographic content on his mobile apps.

The fresh chargesheet pertains to a complaint filed by a 21-year old aspiring model from Madhya Pradesh who lodged a complaint that under pretext of giving her a break in the short movies, Bomble, then Ajay Shrimant, Gehana Vasisth and later Prince Kashyap took her to three bungalows — two at Madh Island and one in Lonavala — on multiple occasions and forced her to act in porn movies and those clips were uploaded in three apps. She said she was paid Rs 10,000 to 15,000 per shoot. When she refused to act, the accused promised that the obscene videos would be edited but they were uploaded without any cut.

After the crime branch in February arrested a gang of five including Rowa Yasmin Khan shooting a live porn film at a Madh Island bungalow, they made an appeal to victims to come forward and lodge a complaint, she gathered courage to lodge the complaint.

She said Vashist forced her to sign agreements by luring a major role in films. Vashist had been arrested in the pornography racket.

Mumbai: Going by the statements of witnesses, the element of inducement, which is a prime ingredient of cheating, appears to be missing from the prosecution’s case, a magistrate’s court said while granting bail to businessman Raj Kundra on Monday in the pornography case.

Kundra and Ryan Thorpe, the IT head of his company, who were both arrested on July 19, walked out of Arthur Road jail on Tuesday afternoon after the formalities. The detailed four-page order was made available on Tuesday. Additional chief metropolitan magistrate S B Bhajipale noted that all servers, laptops and mobile phones of the accused were in custody of the police and, hence, there was no possibility of tampering with evidence. “At present, all the accused are released on bail. In such circumstances, only on the grounds that further investigation is going on, the accused cannot be kept behind bars till conclusion of trial,” he added. The prosecution had opposed the bail pleas of Kundra and Thorpe.

------------------------

Mumbai: Granting bail to businessman Raj Kundra, a magistrate’s court said the trial is likely to take its own time. “In such circumstances, it will not be proper to keep the accused in custody when they are ready to furnish surety for their appearance and to abide by conditions set by the court,” it added.

The court said 64 witnesses have been cited by the prosecution and the chargesheet runs into 4,000-plus pages. Moreover, none of the offences attract a sentence of more than seven years’ imprisonment. “The report of the cyber expert is still awaited. At present, investigation is completed as the chargesheet was filed on September 15,” said the court, pointing out the SC has held that the accused cannot be kept behind bars even for an inconsiderable period when investigations are completed.

Advocates Swapnil Ambure and Prashant Patil had argued that Kundra and his associate Ryan Thorpe were not related to uploading of the allegedly questionable content. “There is not a single allegation in the supplementary chargesheet against the applicant (Kundra) that he was actively involved in any video shooting. In fact, it is the sole discretion of the individual artistes to upload content on the app,” the bail plea said.

The defence said the case of the prosecution is not that there are victims who were coerced or threatened by Kundra. “None of the artistes ever raised any grievance or any alarm with regards to the so-called alleged filming and broadcasting of erotic content. By their own admission, their dispute is in respect of sharing of financial gains and consequential contractual obligation,” the bail plea had said.

The court noted there is a statement in the chargesheet about transactions. “However, from the statement, it can only be gathered that transactions took place between Kenrin and Hotshots and out of said transactions, there was an exchange of amounts. However, exchange of amounts is not an offence levelled against the accused in the chargesheet,” said the court.

The chargesheet said Kundra had set up Hotshots, an online platform, with the intention of distributing pornographic material. Victims were cheated by being told that they were going to be given roles in web series, short films and television serials. A forensic audit also revealed money laundering of the Hotspots revenues. The funds were diverted using Google and Apple apps to UK company Kenrin’s account in Lloyds Bank even before the app’s sale by Armsprime Media Pvt Ltd. Police suspect Kundra has a stake in the production company Kenrin and was involved in production and distribution of pornography material.

Kundra and Thorpe have been told not to leave the country.

------------------------

Mumbai: Businessman Raj Kundra had 119 adult/porn videos which he wanted to sell to UK-based JL Stream, said the police.

The claim is part of Mumbai police’s supplementary chargesheet, naming him as a key accused in an alleged pornography racket.

The police said they couldn’t find any video contents from Kundra’s mobile phone but the forensic cyber expert’s report says there are digital footprints of video clips. Annexed to the chargesheet are emails and WhatsApp chat between Kundra, his brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi and one Monika from JL Stream discussing the sale of the porn clips. The police retrieved the chat from Kundra’s phone, in which there is a screenshot sent to him by Bakshi discussing the sale.

“Dear Monika, sharing the 119 movie list, this has cost me over $1.2 million to produce, giving them all to JL Stream in perpetual ownership. I would need part cash and part equity as discussed. The $75million valuation does not work for me… I am willing to agree on 2% in shares of JL Stream Singapore pvt ltd and $100k in transfer,” says Bakshi’s mail. Monika replies: “I have spoken to the board and the interest is there… to acquire your content bank in exchange for part cash part equity in JL Stream.”

------------------------

Raj Kundra, who was granted bail on Monday in a case related to creating and streaming pornographic content, was seen leaving the Arthur Road jail around 11.30 am yesterday. He was later seen arriving at his Juhu home. A magistrate court in Mumbai granted bail to the businessman, a key accused in the case, for which he was arrested in July. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate SB Bhajipale allowed Kundra’s bail application on furnishing a bond of Rs. 50,000. His associate and co-accused Ryan Thorpe, who was arrested along with him on July 19, was also granted bail by the court in the case pertaining to the alleged creation of pornographic films and publishing them through some apps. The 46-year-old businessman and husband of actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra, was lodged in Arthur Road Jail in central Mumbai under judicial custody.

Raj Kundra was arrested by the Mumbai Police’s Crime Branch after being booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. He moved a bail plea before the metropolitan magistrate court after the police filed a supplementary charge sheet in the case.

In the plea, filed through advocate Prashant Patil, Kundra claimed there was no evidence with the prosecution that would connect the app Hotshots, used in the alleged porn films racket, with an offence under the law. As per the probe agency, the app was used by accused persons to upload and stream obscene content. The businessman claimed there was no evidence of him being “actively” involved in the creation of alleged questionable porn content. Kundra alleged he has been falsely implicated, was not even named in the FIR and has been dragged by the respondent (police) in the case. The businessman claimed in the plea that he is being made a “scapegoat”.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Bhajipale, after hearing both sides, allowed Kundra’s application on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 50,000. In their supplementary charge sheet, the police had claimed Kundra was the “main facilitator” in the case, and he, along with other accused, exploited young women struggling in the movie industry by filming them in obscene ways. The Crime Branch filed the nearly 1,500-page charge sheet against Kundra and Thorpe in the court on September 15. Besides Kundra and Thorpe, Yash Thakur, a resident of Singapore, and London-based Pardeep Bakshi have been shown as wanted accused in the charge sheet.

— Agencies

------------------------

A few hours after Raj was granted bail, Shilpa shared a quote by Chinese-American modernist architect Roger Lee. “Rainbows exist to prove that beautiful things can happen after a bad storm,” she wrote.

Earlier, in her statement to the police, Shilpa had claimed she was not aware of her husband Raj Kundra’s activities as she was busy with her work.

Raj Kundra on Saturday moved a bail application in a Mumbai court, claiming that he was being made a “scapegoat” in a pornography films case. The businessman claimed that there was “not a single evidence” against him in the supplementary chargesheet, filed by the crime branch, that proved he was actively involved in the creation of the alleged questionable content.

Kundra – who along with three others has been accused of creating pornographic films and publishing them through some apps – approached the metropolitan court for bail, saying that the investigation in the case was “practically over”. He was arrested on July 19 after being booked under relevant sections of the IPC and the Information Technology Act and is currently in judicial custody.

In the application for bail, filed through advocate Prashant Patil, Kundra claimed that there is not “a single iota of evidence” till date with the prosecution that would connect the app HotShots with an offence under law. As per the probe agency, the HotShots app was used by the accused for uploading and streaming obscene content. The bail plea also said that there is “not a single allegation in the entire supplementary charge sheet” against the present applicant (Kundra) that he was actively involved in any of the video shootings. The application claims that it is “a sole discretion” of the individual artists to upload their contents on the app.

The contents of the complaint do not disclose any prima-facie offence against Kundra, the application added.

It further claimed that Kundra was falsely implicated in the case, that he was not named in the FIR and that he has “been dragged by” the respondent (police) into the case, it added, further stating that he was being made a “scapegoat”, for reasons “best known to” the investigating agencies. It stated that the investigation so far “clearly shows that Kundra was not involved in any offence even in a remotest way” or in creating the alleged “questionable content”. Further, the plea claimed, he is “not even related to the process of uploading or broadcasting of the alleged questionable content”.

The bail application is likely to come up for hearing on Monday.

-------------------

Shilpa Shetty Kundra uploaded a page from a novel on her Instagram story, leaving followers wondering what it meant. It is the second such post by the actress after the arrest of her husband Raj Kundra in a porn-related case. The post, uploaded on Saturday on her Stories, had a quote from author Carl Bard. It read: “Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending”. The page ended with two lines: “I don’t have to be defined by things I’ve done in the past. I can make the future what I want it to be”.

As a supplementary chargesheet was filed against Raj recently, Shilpa had gone to Vaishno Devi. Earlier, in August, Shilpa had posted a quote from author Sophia Loren, which read: “Mistakes are part of dues one makes for a full life”.