Never been involved in pornography in my life, it is a witch-hunt: Raj Kundra

Businessman Raj Kundra, who was arrested in a pornography case earlier this year and later granted bail, claimed on Monday (December 20) that he has never been involved in the production and distribution of pornographic content “in his life”.

In a statement issued on Instagram, Kundra, who is married to actor Shilpa Shetty, said that the entire episode was nothing but a “witch hunt”. The businessman also said that he has already been pronounced guilty by the media, and he wishes his privacy is not intruded on anymore with this continued “media trial”.

The Supreme Court granted Kundra protection from arrest last week in connection with an FIR registered against him for allegedly distributing pornographic videos.

Kundra was arrested by the Mumbai Police in another case where he was accused of distributing porn films through an app in July this year, and was granted bail in September.

Also read: Mumbai Police form SIT to probe Raj Kundra ‘porn’ films case

“After much contemplation, considering there are many misleading and irresponsible statements and articles floating around and my silence has been misconstrued for weakness. I would like to start by stating that I have NEVER been involved in the production and distribution of pornography EVER in my life. This whole episode has been nothing but a witch hunt. The matter is subjudice so I cannot elucidate, but I am ready to face trial and have full faith in the judiciary, where the truth will prevail,” Kundra said in the post.

Kundra said that “unfortunately” he has already been pronounced guilty by the media and that his family and he have been subjected to a lot of pain (continuously), violating his human and constitutional rights at different levels.

“The trolling, negativity and toxic public perception has been very debilitating. To set the record straight, I do not hide my face in shame, but wish that my privacy is not intruded anymore with this continued MEDIA TRIAL. My priority has always been my family, nothing else matters at this juncture,” Kundra said.

Also read: Shilpa Shetty’s husband, Raj Kundra, granted bail in pornography case

Kundra said that he believes it is every person’s inalienable right to live with dignity and he requests the same. The businessman had been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act and the Information Technology Act for allegedly distributing/transmitting sexually explicit videos.

Fearing arrest, Kundra first sought an anticipatory bail from a sessions court, but it was refused, so he moved the Bombay High Court, claiming that he had been framed. The HC also rejected his anticipatory bail application on November 25.

The FIR named actors Sherlyn Chopra and Poonam Pandey as co-accused. Kundra’s lawyers had claimed that he was in no way connected to content creation, publication or transmission of alleged illegal videos, and even as the actors, who were named as co-accused, had given full consent to shoot the videos.

(With inputs from Agencies)