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Businessman Raj Kundra, actor Shilpa Shetty’s husband has been summoned by a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Mumbai in connection with the GainBitcoin cryptocurrency fraud and an alleged money-laundering case. This report comes after Rs 60 crore fraud allegations against Raj and Shilpa which he had denied earlier. The summons follows the court taking cognisance of a supplementary chargesheet recently filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Kundra has been directed to appear before the court on January 19, 2026.The court has also issued summons to Dubai-based businessman Rajesh Ram Satija, citing their alleged involvement in the case. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the special judge noted in the order, “A prima facie case has been made out to take cognisance and to proceed against accused Nos. 17 and 18 (Kundra and Rajesh Satija) for the offence under Section 3 … of the PMLA and to issue process against them.”
The matter relates to the GainBitcoin scheme, a cryptocurrency investment and mining operation that is alleged to have duped thousands of investors across the country. Investigators have maintained that the scheme was orchestrated by Amit Bhardwaj, who has since passed away. The project reportedly lured investors with promises of hefty returns through Bitcoin mining, which never came to fruition.As per the ED’s chargesheet, Raj Kundra is alleged to have received proceeds of crime amounting to 285 Bitcoins from Bhardwaj. At the time the assets were assessed by the agency, their value was estimated to be more than Rs 150 crore. The ED has claimed that these Bitcoins were directly linked to criminal proceeds from the GainBitcoin scam and that Kundra continued to hold them without offering a satisfactory explanation for their legitimate source.The agency has further alleged that Kundra’s involvement went beyond that of a mere facilitator. According to the ED, he acted as a “beneficial owner” in the arrangement. Investigators have also flagged a property transaction involving five flats in Mumbai’s Juhu area, which are reportedly registered in the name of Shilpa Shetty. The ED has alleged that the flats were sold at a price well below market value, suggesting a possible attempt to legitimise proceeds of crime.Meanwhile, earlier, in his statement, Kundra made it clear that both he and Shilpa Shetty completely reject the Rs 60 crore fraud allegations being circulated against them. He said the claims are being unfairly portrayed as criminal in nature without any lawful basis. The statement read, “We categorically deny the baseless and motivated allegations being circulated. The issues sought to be raised are being given a criminal colour without any lawful basis. A Quashing Petition has already been filed before the Hon’ble High Court and is pending adjudication.”