Raj Kundra granted bail two months after arrest
Businessman and husband of actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Raj Kundra, has been granted bail by a local court in Mumbai on Monday. This came two months after he was arrested by the Mumbai Police. He was linked with the alleged production of pornographic content distributed over subscription-based mobile apps as well as websites. His IT head, Ryan Thorpe, has also been released. They have been asked to furnish a surety of ₹50,000 each.
As per reports, Kundra became emotional when he stepped out of Arthur Road Jail. Sporting a red teeka and having visibly lost weight, he avoided photographers and got into a waiting car.
TIMELINE
After an examination at the JJ hospital, Kundra was produced before the Killa Court on July 20.
The crime branch reportedly recovered 70 videos shot by Kundra’s PA, Umesh Kamat. As per reports, witnesses and complainants revealed
Kundra threatened aspiring actors, who hoped for a break in showbiz. His police custody that got over on July 23 was extended by the Bombay High Court till July 27, after which he was sent to a 14-day judicial custody. On August 2, the Bombay HC reserved its order on a bail plea filed by Kundra and Thorpe claiming that their arrest was illegal on grounds of no legal notice served to them. However, Metropolitan Magistrate Court and the Bombay HC rejected their pleas. On August 13, a team was formed by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch for investigation. A few days later, the Bombay HC granted interim protection from arrest to Kundra, Kamat and extended it till September 20.
Last week, Mumbai Police filed a supplementary chargesheet, comprising nearly 1500 pages against Kundra and Thorpe. Kundra was termed the “main facilitator” in the pornography racket case.