Raj Kundra Live Updates: Businessman bribed officials Rs 25 lakh to avoid arrest; 70 videos recovered

Money Trails, WhatsApp Chats: Mumbai Police Digs Up More Dirt On Raj Kundra in Porn Scandal

Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, who was arrested on Monday for production of pornographic films, allegedly sold his app ‘Hotshots’ to the UK-based company Kenrin Pvt Ltd owned by his brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi but controlled activities from Mumbai, police have said. The police is additionally examining Shilpa Shetty’s role within the racket. Kundra and his IT head Ryan Thorpe were remanded in custody till July 23. Police had already arrested nine people earlier within the case. Kundra was involved within the streaming of porn videos through the ‘Hotshots’ app, police said. ‘Hotshots’ has now been faraway from mobile platforms. Kundra supplied the content and controlled the united kingdom firm from his Viaan Industries office. Kundra said that he sold ‘Hotshots’ for $25,000 in 2019.

While the app was banned from Google Play Store and Apple store in 2020, the business continued to flourish as Kundra also had a backup app named Bollyfame in situ . Raj Kundra is currently in judicial custody along side another co-accused Ryan Tharpe who was a techie associate for his or her app Hotshots. As new details still emerge, stay tuned to Pinkvilla's live updates.

As probe goes on, here are the highest developments within the case:

- Incriminating electronic evidence accessed by the Mumbai Police hints that business tycoon Raj Kundra believed that streaming of adult content was the longer term . A report filed by the police also claimed that Raj Kundra planned to form his porn business as big as Bollywood, ETimes reported. The revelation of Raj Kundra’s involvement within the streaming of pornographic videos through an app called “Hotshots" took social media by storm and led to his arrest along side 11 of his accomplices on Monday night.

- Kundra was actively involved within the production of pornography, sources on the brink of the Mumbai Crime Branch told CNN-News18. Although Kundra had previously claimed that he sold off his business to his brother-in-law in UK, property cell officers found that Kundra had lied. Through investigation, it's come to light that Kundra was actively involved in day-to-day decisions within the operation of HS. Kundra had found out a robust legal team to prevent piracy of the pornographic content being created for the HotShots (HS) app. The legal team was reportedly looking into copy rights issues in India and abroad.

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- Further, it's come to the fore that the Mumbai Police has thus far frozen about Rs 7.31 crore in bank accounts of various people associated with the case. Of this, Rs 34,90,00 within the account of HOT HIT app of Yasmin Khan alias Rowa Khan has been frozen.

- Kundra has been receiving regular payments, amounting to Rs 9.65 lakh, in his checking account from Hot Hit, a porn app that was named within the racket busted by Mumbai Police earlier this year. Just before the porn racket was busted by the police in February, Kundra received Rs 2.7 lakh on February 3 from Hot Hit. Similarly, he received Rs 95,000 on January 23, Rs 1 lakh on January 20, Rs 2 lakh on January 13, and Rs 3 lakh on January 10.

- The Mumbai Police on Wednesday said they're investigating Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty’s role within the production of pornographic films. Though the preliminary investigation doesn't indicate her involvement, the Mumbai Crime Branch remains analysing her part, a politician said. “Preliminary investigation has not shown us that Shilpa Shetty has any role during this pornographic racket. But we are still analysing," a politician from Mumbai Crime Branch told CNN-News18.

“We are browsing their bank accounts that are jointly held by Shetty and Kundra to see if the financial proceeds are stored in these accounts," he said. Stressing that, currently, the most target of investigation is Kundra since he's the main conspirator, the officer added, “No summons as of now to Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra."

- Raj Kundra’s arrest began with a tip-off a few porn movie being shot at a bungalow in Madh Island. As they reached at the bungalow, Mumbai Police found two persons in intimate poses. Five persons assisting within the filming process were arrested and a lady was rescued from the house that day, the police said. The latter was made a complainant within the case which eventually led to the arrest of the businessman five months afterward July 19.