The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at around 15 locations in Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh linked to businessman Raj Kundra, husband of actress Shilpa Shetty, as part of an ongoing investigation into money laundering allegations tied to the production and distribution of pornographic content via mobile applications.

The raids are the latest development in a case that has embroiled Kundra since 2021, when he was arrested by Mumbai Police following complaints from multiple women alleging they were coerced into filming explicit content under the pretense of securing acting roles in web series. Kundra was subsequently released on bail in September 2021.

Earlier this year, the ED had attached Kundra’s assets valued at ₹98 crore, including a residential flat in Juhu, Mumbai, a bungalow in Pune, and equity shares. The assets were linked to proceeds from the Gain Bitcoin Ponzi Scam, a ₹2,000 crore scheme investigated since 2018. While initially not named in the case, Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty were served notices in April 2024 regarding the provisional attachment of their properties.

Kundra and Shetty have consistently denied any wrongdoing and claimed full cooperation with the authorities. Kundra has appeared for multiple ED summons, while Shetty provided required documentation through her representatives. The couple also challenged the ED’s property attachment order in the Bombay High Court, securing interim relief against eviction from their Juhu residence and a farmhouse near Pune.

The ED’s intensified action underscores its broader crackdown on money laundering and financial crimes. As the investigation unfolds, the couple’s legal troubles continue to draw significant public and media attention. Further updates from the ED are awaited.