**ED Charges Raj Kundra in ₹150 Crore Bitcoin Scam**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | Sep 27, 2025, 11:45 AM*
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has formally charged actor and businessman Raj Kundra, husband of Shilpa Shetty Kundra, in a money laundering case connected to a high-value Bitcoin scam.
According to the agency’s chargesheet submitted to a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court, Kundra is the beneficial owner of 285 Bitcoins valued at ₹150.47 crore. These Bitcoins were allegedly received from the late crypto-scam mastermind Amit Bhardwaj.
**Allegations Against Raj Kundra**
The ED accuses Kundra of deliberately hiding crucial evidence, including Bitcoin wallet addresses, and failing to surrender the Bitcoins obtained from Bhardwaj. The agency claims that Kundra still retains possession of these proceeds of crime.
Further allegations include conducting a “genuine transaction” with his wife at a price “far below market rate” — an attempt, according to the ED, to obscure the illegal origins of the funds.
**Obstruction of Investigation**
The agency claims that Kundra obstructed the PMLA investigation by layering illicit funds and portraying them as legitimate assets. The money laundering case is rooted in FIRs filed by the Maharashtra and Delhi Police against several individuals, including Mahendra Bhardwaj, Ajay Bhardwaj, Vivek Bhardwaj, Simpy Bhardwaj, and the company Variable Tech Private Limited.
These accused allegedly ran a Ponzi scheme involving Bitcoins as part of a mining operation, promising investors high returns.
**Disputed Role in Transactions**
The chargesheet notes that Kundra has claimed to be merely a “mediator” in the transactions linked to the Bitcoins. However, he has failed to provide any evidence supporting this claim.
An agreement titled “Term Sheet” was signed between Kundra and Mahendra Bhardwaj, and the chargesheet states, “He was indeed the recipient of bitcoins as a beneficial owner and not acted merely as a mediator.”
**Non-Disclosure of Wallet Addresses**
Despite multiple opportunities since 2018, Raj Kundra has not disclosed the Bitcoin wallet addresses where the 285 Bitcoins were transferred. Kundra reportedly cited the damage to his iPhone X after his first statement as the reason for being unable to provide this information.
The ED interprets this as a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence and conceal proceeds of crime.
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The investigation and legal proceedings are ongoing as authorities continue to probe the extent of Kundra’s involvement in the multi-crore Bitcoin scam.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/raj-kundra-charged-in-bitcoin-scam-case/story