MUMBAI: The Mumbai Police on Tuesday made a shocking revelation that arrested businessman Raj Kundra and his brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi are the alleged masterminds of an international porn films racket perpetrated through their content production companies based in India and the United Kingdom.
The husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, Kundra is the owner of Viaan Industries Ltd, jointly promoted by the couple, while Bakshi - a British citizen, who's married to Kundra's sister, is the Chairman of Kenrin Ltd., London.
Mumbai's Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Milind Bharambe said that the two companies had a mobile app called 'HotShots Digital Entertainment', developed by Kenrin Ltd. The HotShots app is described as the 'world's first 18+ app', showcasing some of the hottest models and celebs globally in exclusive photos, short films and hot videos - implying soft-to-hard porn. "The free to download app was yanked off by both Apple and Google Playstore for the type of it's content. The Mumbai Police have recovered incriminating evidence like several HotShot films, video clips, WhatsApp chats, etc. during the investigation.", Bharambe told a crowded media gathering.
He said that the probe into the entire affair of Kundra started in February 2021 with the Malvani police station blowing the lid off by lodging a complaint about pornographic content being produced and shot at some bungalows in the remote Madh Island and its surroundings in the coastal areas of Malad in north-west Mumbai.
The police probe made startling revelations of how new or aspiring actresses coming to Mumbai from all over India were lured with work offers in short films, web series and other movies. "They were called for auditions and after selection made to do bold scenes, which went onto semi-nude and then full-nude shoots. Some of them strongly opposed this and had approached the police," Bharambe said. After making the content, the two companies - Viaan and Kendrin made them available on mobile apps, offering subscriptions akin to the mainstream OTT platforms, advertise them on social media, all of which were illegal as pornography in any form is banned in India.
Following the investigations by the Malvani Police and later by the Crime Branch-CID and Property Cell, at least 12 arrests have been made so far, including Kundra, his techie associate Ryan J. Tharpe, who were remanded to police custody till July 23 by a Mumbai Magistrate Court.
1. Sherlyn Chopra
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Earlier this year, a case was registered with Crime Branch Mumbai in February 2021 under sections 292 of IPC, sections 67, 67A of Information Technology and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Rules 3 and 4. Several people who were arrested by the police were found to have links with Raj Kundra. Sherlyn Chopra too had recorded her statement with the Cyber Crime branch of Maharashtra Police in the pornography case for which Raj Kundra has now been remanded to police custody. In her statement, Sherlyn reportedly confessed to stating that Raj Kundra had pushed her into the adult industry. It was also revealed that Sherlyn was paid Rs 30 lakh for each project and so far, she has done about 15 to 20 projects for Raj Kundra.
2. Poonam Pandey
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According to a report on india.com, Poonam Pandey along with Sherlyn had confessed alleging Raj Kundra had introduced her to the adult industry. Additionally, the report states she had a contract with Raj Kundra's firm Armsprime Media. The firm dealt with several types of apps and Poonam Pandey was one of the clients of Raj's firm. Poonam's app was an adult app and the firm took care of the work of her app. However, the contract had ended, but Raj Kundra's firm continued using her movies and footage indiscriminately. Poonam had even filed a complaint in 2020 against the firm and Raj stating that Raj Kundra and his associates were illegally using content featuring her even after termination of her contract.
Meanwhile, after Raj's arrest, Poonam Pandey said in an interview with a leading daily, that her heart goes out to Shilpa Shetty and her kids, "At this moment my heart goes out to Shilpa Shetty and her kids. I can't imagine what she must be going through. So, I refuse to use this opportunity to highlight my trauma." "The only thing I'll add is that I have filed a police complaint in 2019 against Raj Kundra and subsequently registered a case at the honourable high court of Bombay against him for fraud and theft. This matter is sub judice, hence I would prefer to limit my statements. Also, I have full faith in our police & the judicial process.", she added.
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3. Gehana Vasisth
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In February, Mumbai police had conducted a bust in Madh Island where the alleged shooting of porn films was taking place. Actress-model Gehana Vasisth and eight others were arrested after an investigation into a case involving the production and distribution of pornographic content through mobile apps was conducted. This is the same case under which Raj Kundra was arrested late Monday night. After Raj's arrest, Gehana's publicist had issued a statement that read, "The law will take its course. We have full faith in Mumbai police, but they should not mix up porn with erotica or bold content. We have always said that Mumbai police is the best force in the world. The courts will eventually decide during trial as to who are the real culprits and which of the arrested accused were merely used, by others.". The statement further read, "We don't want to comment anymore, as Gehana is on bail in the same cases and she does not want to prejudice or impair her right to her personal defence. However, police should investigate fully as there are many more skeletons in the cupboards of the rich and famous.".
4. Sagarika Shona Suman
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After Raj Kundra's arrest late Monday night, an undated interview of Sagarika Suman has come to the fore in which she claims she was asked to give her audition for a web series via video call where three people, one of them allegedly Raj Kundra, demanded a n*de audition from her. In the video, she is heard saying, "In August 2020, I got a call from Umesh Kamat ji who offered me a web series owned and produced by Raj Kundra. I asked him about Raj Kundra and he told me he is Shilpa Shetty's husband.". Continuing further, Sagarika Shona Suman said, "He told me if I joined (the web series), I would continue to get work and I would reach great heights. So I agreed and then he told me to audition. I told him it's COVID so how will I give the audition. So he said you can do it via video call. When I joined the video call, he demanded that I give a n*de audition. I was shocked and I refused. The video call had three people- one of whom had their face covered and one of them was Raj Kundra I think. I want that if he is involved in such things, he is arrested and such a racket is exposed.".
In the latest development in the Raj Kundra soft pornography case in which the businessman was arrest late Monday night on alleged charges of making and publishing pornographic content and publishing them through mobile applications, the court has sent the entrepreneur to police custody till July 23.
Besides Raj, one other by the name of Ryan Tharp has also been sent to police custody. Tharp was arrested today in connection with a case relating to the production of pornographic films.
The Mumbai Police said in a press conference that so far, they have not found any involvement of Shilpa Shetty in the case.
Also Read: Shocking! Amidst Raj Kundra's arrest, Sagarika Shona Suman reveals she was asked for a nude audition
Credit: DNA India
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