Pornographic films case: WhatsApp Chats reveal Raj Kundra planned another app after Hotshots was blocked

Mumbai: Purported WhatsApp chats between businessman Raj Kundra, arrested in an alleged porn films racket, and different members of a bunch advised he had a ‘Plan B’ in place after Google Play took down ‘Hotshots’, the OTT app on the centre of the criminal activity, as a result of coverage violations, police sources mentioned on Wednesday.

The ‘Plan B’ concerned launching a brand new software to hold on the unlawful enterprise of manufacturing and circulating pornographic content material, they mentioned. Raj Kundra (45), husband of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, was arrested by the Mumbai crime department on Monday night time in a case, which it mentioned, associated to the alleged creation of pornographic films and publishing them via some apps. He is in police custody until July 23. 

At least 4 screenshots of purported WhatsApp chats have surfaced on social media by which Kundra was allegedly seen discussing in regards to the ‘Plan B’ with another member on ‘H ACCOUNTS’ group, the sources mentioned. A member of the group shares a screenshot of the mail, which was acquired from Google Play Team about standing of the app (‘Hotshots’), to which Kundra allegedly replied, “…Plan B started max 2-3 weeks new app will be live iOS and Android it’s a blessing.” 

During this dialog, a member named as Rob Digital Marketing Hotshots asks Kundra, “until then, can we deactivate all the bold films and the Appeal again the Play store”, the chats confirmed. In another screenshot of private chat with a member on November 10, the member informed Kundra, “till BF (Bollyfame) is up let’s find out way to sustain HS (Hotshots).” 

There was additionally dialogue on eradicating “extremely bold content” from the platform in the intervening time, the sources mentioned. On October 11, members of ‘H ACCOUNTS’ WhatsApp group mentioned about stay income of Rs 1.85 lakh and film sale of Rs 4.52 lakh, which was appreciated by Kundra and his brother-in-law Pradeep Bakshi, who was additionally allegedly a part of the racket. 
Kundra’s Viaan Industries had a tie-up with London-based firm Kenrin, which owns ‘Hotshots’, the OTT platform allegedly concerned in publishing pornographic films, a senior police official had mentioned on Tuesday. Kenrin is owned by the brother-in-law of Kundra, he had mentioned. Due to its objectionable content material, ‘Hotshots’ was suspended by Google Play Store and Apple App Store final yr. 

On Monday, the police had described Kundra because the “key conspirator” of the case, which was registered on February 4 on the Malwani police station in suburban Mumbai. In all, 11 individuals have been arrested thus far within the case, the police have mentioned. 

Kundra has been booked below sections 420 (dishonest), 34 (frequent intention), 292 and 293 (associated to obscene and indecent ads and shows) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) apart from related sections of the IT Act and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.