• Source:JND
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Businessman and actor, Raj Kundra, husband of actress Shilpa Shetty, is facing scrutiny from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over allegations of possessing 285 Bitcoins worth Rs 150.47 crore. According to the ED, these Bitcoins were obtained from late crypto-scam mastermind Amit Bhardwaj, founder of GainBitcoin. The agency claims Kundra received the Bitcoins for setting up a Bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine, a project that never materialised.

The ED's chargesheet alleged that Kundra is the beneficial owner of the Bitcoins, contradicting his claim of acting as a mediator. Despite multiple opportunities since 2018, Kundra has failed to provide wallet addresses where the Bitcoins were transferred. He attributed the missing information to damage to his iPhone X, which the ED views as a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence.

Furthermore, the ED alleged Kundra conducted a suspicious transaction with Shilpa Shetty, selling her properties at below market rates, to disguise the origin of funds obtained through illicit activities. This transaction is seen as an attempt to layer proceeds of crime and project them as legitimate.

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating Raj Kundra in a money-laundering case linked to cryptocurrency scam mastermind Amit Bhardwaj. The probe began with FIRs filed by the Maharashtra and Delhi police against Variable Tech Private Limited and the Bhardwaj family, who allegedly promised high returns on Bitcoin mining investments but defrauded investors. According to the ED, Raj Kundra received 285 Bitcoins from Amit Bhardwaj for a proposed Bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine that never materialized. Despite this, Kundra allegedly retained possession of the cryptocurrency, contradicting his claim of acting solely as a mediator due to lack of supporting evidence.

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Kundra and Shilpa Shetty are also facing allegations of defrauding a businessman of Rs 60.4 crore in a separate case, which the couple's lawyer strongly denies. The ED has attached assets worth Rs 97.78 crore, including five residential flats and a bungalow, belonging to Kundra and Shetty.