Raj Kundra's 4 employees turn witnesses in pornography case

Fresh trouble mounts for businessman Raj Kundra as his four employees are likely to turn up as witnesses against him in the pornography case.

Mumbai: In a fresh development in pornography case against businessman Raj Kundra, four employees from his Viaan Industries have turned witnesses against him. The Mumbai Police sources revealed the news as Kundra has not been cooperating in the probe. The four employees have furnished complete details on the working of the racket to Mumbai Crime Branch's property cell, said Mumbai Police sources.

Kundra and his actor wife Shilpa Shetty were earlier interrogated by the Crime Branch officials. The officials confronted Shilpa with Kundra's version of events. Questions largely revolved around the financial transactions undertaken by Kundra's firm that is the spotlight in the alleged porn case, sources said. The officials also seized a printer, a laptop and a box full of documents.

The Crime Branch had apprehended the actor for creating pornographic content and uploading them on a mobile application, in association with a UK-based firm. "He appears to be the key conspirator. We have sufficient evidence regarding this," Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale had said soon after Kundra's arrest. According to Mumbai Police, 10 other people, too, have also been arrested. The police, while seeking maximum custody of Kundra, told a magistrate's court that the 45-year-old businessman had made huge money by making and selling pornographic material.

Kundra was booked under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 34 (common intention), 292 and 293 (related to obscene and indecent advertisements and displays) besides relevant sections of the IT Act and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. Mumbai Police told the court that they suspect money earned from pornography was used for online betting. The case was registered with Crime Branch Mumbai in February 2021 based on the creation of pornographic films and the use of apps. Kundra and one of his tainted company's IT head Ryan Thorpe have been sent to police custody till July 27 in connection with the pornography case.