Porn Case: No Interim Relief For Arrested Businessman Raj Kundra, Says Bombay HC

Raj Kundra judicial custody in the porn racket case unfolding in Mumbai was extended by two weeks on Tuesday. He was arrested on July 19 and has been in custody since.

The British-Indian businessman, who is the husband of actor Shilpa Shetty, has been named by the police as a "key conspirator" in the alleged network of producing and distributing illegal adult content online. Follow the case here.

The High Court in Mumbai, pronouncing the order in the case, denied custody of Kundra to the Mumbai police crime branch that is investigating the porn racket. His associate, one Ryan Thorpe, has also been remanded to custody with him.

Kundra has challenged his arrest as being "illegal" and reportedly filed a petition in court on July 23.

His bail hearing, which was earlier scheduled for July 27 before the HC, has been adjourned till July 29. The court has ordered for the investigating officer in the case to be present during the hearing.

Pornography case: Bombay High Court adjourns till Thursday the hearing on Raj Kundra's bail plea and asks the investigating officer of the case to remain present during the hearing. No interim relief to Raj Kundra

— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2021

Raj Kundra Judicial Custody For 2 Weeks, Bail Hearing Postponed

Details emerging in the case so far have revealed Kundra's links to an app named Hotshots that was allegedly being used to publish pornographic content. Kundra was previously associated with Armsprime Media, the company behind Hotshots, but claimed he sold the app to UK-based firm Kenrin in 2019.

Police suspect Kundra continued to be involved in operations for Hotshots from his Mumbai-based Viaan Industries setup.

As per the police, Shetty during interrogation recorded her statement in the case, defending her husband saying erotica was not porn and that the content platformed on Hotshots is not unlike what is being showcased on other OTT platforms. Read more on it here.

Last week, police conducted raids at Kundra and Shetty's house in Juhu, where they said an altercation broke out between the couple with the latter questioning her husband over his actions. Police have said no "active role" of Shetty has been identified in the case yet.

Two bank accounts linked to Kundra have been sealed and as per reports, the Enforcement Directorate is set to register a case on him citing financial irregularities.