ED TO ATTACH RAJ KUNDRA’S ASSETS WORTH ₹150CR
MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Mumbai had provisionally attached assets worth ₹97.79 crore belonging to businessman Raj Kundra, including a multi-crore Juhu flat whose ownership, the agency believes, Kundra transferred to his wife, Shilpa Shetty, for a price half of its estimated value. The agency is probing money-laundering linked to a ₹6,600-crore bitcoin-based Ponzi scheme. The agency suspects Kundra’s involvement in the scam and plans to attach assets worth a total of ₹150 crore.
According to ED sources, Kundra allegedly received 285 bitcoins, valued at around ₹150 crore, from the deceased mastermind Amit Bhardwaj for a failed Bitcoin mining project i n Ukraine.
The agency on Thursday said it attached a bungalow in Pune and his equity shares. When HT contacted Prashant Patil, advocate of Kundra, he said, “We shall follow the due process of law and take necessary steps as prescribed under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to protect the liberty and property . On the face of it, there is no prima facie case made out against my clients Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty. We have complete faith in the Honourable Judiciary.” Patil said, “I believe when we make our fair representation before the ED, even the investigation agencies may grant justice to us. We have faith in a fair investigation. We stand committed to cooperating with the authorities as and when required.” Patil added, “According to my client, Raj Kundra, he did not get any bitcoin at all from the accused, as has been alleged.” The ED’S investigation into the alleged scheme operated by Singapore-based firm Variable Tech Pte Ltd has revealed that the company collected 80,000 bitcoins worth ₹6,606 crore from investors, promising high returns.