Mumbai: Businessman Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, has once again failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), skipping the second summons issued in connection with the ongoing money laundering probe linked to the pornography case.
Kundra was initially summoned by the ED last week to appear on Monday, but he requested additional time, which the agency declined and issued the second summons. A second summons required him to appear on Wednesday, but Kundra did not comply. According to sources, the ED is now preparing to issue a third summons.
In the same case, the ED has also summoned actress Gehna Vashisht, directing her to join the investigation on December 9.
Last week, the agency conducted extensive raids on 15 properties linked to Kundra and his associates in Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh. Kundra’s Juhu residence and premises associated with Vashisht were among the locations searched. The ED has frozen several bank and demat accounts belonging to both Kundra and Vashisht, sources confirmed.
The ED in May 2022 registered a case of money laundering against Kundra in connection with the pornography case, based on the FIR registered against him by Mumbai Police in 2021 for allegedly running a porn racket. Kundra was arrested in connection with the case, pertaining to which ED is probing financial transactions. Vashisht had in September 2021 secured protection from arrest from the Supreme Court in the case.
The alleged porn racket pertains to February 2021 when Mumbai police made the first arrests in the case wherein women were performing in porn films. Prior to this, Mumbai Police crime branch conducted raids at a bungalow in Madh Island where porn movies were being shot.
Eventually, Kundra was arrested after investigations revealed him to be a key conspirator in the case.
