Enforcement Directorate (ED) interrogates Raj Kundra in connection with the ongoing pornography racket investigation involving the Hotshots app | File Photo
Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently recorded the statement of businessman Raj Kundra, the husband of actress Shilpa Shetty, as part of its ongoing investigation into an alleged porn business case. The questioning took place at the ED’s Ballard Estate office just before Kundra’s scheduled overseas trip last month.
A senior ED official confirmed that Kundra appeared before investigators after receiving a second summons from the agency. During the extensive questioning, the ED probed Kundra about his alleged involvement in the production and distribution of pornographic content via the mobile application ‘Hotshots.’
Sources close to the investigation revealed that Kundra, associated with Armsprime Ltd in 2019, was instrumental in developing the app, Hotshots app in 2019. The app was later sold to a UK-based company, Kenrin, for $25,000. Despite the sale, Kundra’s company, Viaan Industries Ltd, continued to collaborate with Kenrin by providing technical consultancy services for the app.
ED officials questioned Kundra about the nature of the services provided by Viaan Industries ltd, including technical, operational, and customer services, according to the sources Viaan Industries ltd not only involved in IT related services to kenein as well as maintain the billing system, maintain online payment system and also provide the support of services and third party tools. The agency examined the bank transactions to determine the flow of funds, scrutinizing how, when, and through which accounts substantial amounts were routed between Viaan Industries and other companies linked to these services.
Sources stated that Kundra denied the allegations of his involvement in the production of pornography. In his statement, he clarified that his company role was strictly limited to providing technological services to Kenrin, which hosted the Hotshots app. He emphasized that the content hosted on the platform was “bold” and aimed at an adult audience, but that Kenrin had final approval authority to for all the elements and material aspects of the production for work made for hire basis
The ED is currently auditing high-volume transactions in bank accounts linked to Kundra and his companies. The investigation is also examining transactions between shell companies and Kundra’s entities to trace the movement of substantial funds. However, it is yet to be established whether the sexual content loaded on the Hotshots app’s platform is directly linked to Kundra, ED official said
According to officials, the investigation revealed that Kenrin had a production agreement with G V Studios, a firm owned by Vandana Tiwari, better known as Gehana Vasisth, for adult film production. According to the agreement, Kenrin paid Rs 3 lakh per adult movie produced. Despite this, Kundra has denied any connection with Gehana Vasisth or any related transactions.
FPJ reached out to Kundra’s legal counsel for a statement but had not received a response at the time of publication. The investigation is ongoing.
