MUMBAI: A day after arresting businessman Raj Kundra for his alleged role in production of porn films, the crime branch raided his house and recovered the server. Police have stumbled upon WhatsApp chats between Kundra and his associates discussing an alternative plan after Google Play took down ‘Hotshots,’ the OTT app.
The crime branch has also recovered 70 videos shot by Kundra’s former PA Umesh Kamat with the help of different production houses. Police said Kundra was not revealing much during questioning.
Police will send the server for forensic analysis to know if Kundra had used it to upload pornographic material to his UK-based shell company Kinrin. Police have also written to various banks to provide details of Kundra’s and his company’s bank accounts for the last two years. Police said Kundra has been running the porn business for the last two years.
Kundra was arrested along with his company Viaan Industries’ IT head Ryan Thorpe (43) on Monday evening and on Tuesday, he was remanded to police custody till July 23.
On Monday, police had carried out searches of his Viaan Industries office at Lotus Grandeur as well as JL Stream at Veera Desai Road in Andheri. They had recovered documents like agreements between him and his brother-in- law Pradeep Bakshi, who is proprietor of the UK-based company Kinrin. They also found exchange of emails, WhatsApp chats discussing payment received from subscription of porn clips uploaded on Kinrin apps and other porngraphic material.
Police said the WhatsApp chats between Kundra and Bakshi indicate Kundra was aware he was violating the law as the ‘Hotshots’ app had been taken down by Google Play store in November 2020 and by Apple in June 2020 as the content went against their policies. In one chat, Bakshi said Play store had suspended ‘Hotshots’, to which Kundra replied, “That’s fine, plan B started, max in 2-3 weeks new app will be live on iOS and Android, it’s a blessing.” In another WhatsApp group chat, a digital marketing professional identified as Rob told Kundra, “Until then we can deactivate all the bold films and appeal again on the play store.”
In a WhatsApp chat with another arrested accused, ex-PA Umesh Kamat, Kundra shared the link of a TOI report that said cyber police were likely to summon heads of OTT platforms over airing of porn content. Kamat told Kundra, “Thank god you planned BF (Bollyfame)” and Kundra responded, “Till BF is up, let’s find out a way to sustain HS (HOTSHOTS). Let’s remove extreme bold for the time being.”
