- Mumbai courtroom summons Raj Kundra in Rs 6,600 crore Bitcoin acquisition cash laundering case below PMLA.
- The ED claims that 285 Bitcoins are linked to a failed mining challenge in Ukraine, with an asset worth of over Rs 150 million.
- The courtroom allowed the ED to hunt help from the UAE to grab abroad property which might be mentioned to be proceeds.
A particular courtroom in Mumbai has superior proceedings in a high-value ‘bitcoin acquisition’ cash laundering case and issued summons to businessman Rippu Sudan Kundra, popularly generally known as Raj Kundra, following the submitting of a follow-up cost sheet by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The summons was issued on Monday after the courtroom took word of the ED criticism associated to an alleged Rs 6,600-crore pyramid scheme involving Bitcoin investments. Particular decide RB Rote directed Kundra and co-accused Rajesh Ram Satija to seem earlier than the courtroom on January 19, 2026. The order follows arguments filed by particular public prosecutor Kavita Patil on behalf of the central company.
In a proper path, the courtroom directed authorized proceedings towards Kundra, named as accused no. 17, and Sathya, accused no. 18, for an offense below Part 3 of the Prevention of Cash Laundering Act (PMLA) punishable below Part 4 of the Act.
Origin of ED analysis
The cash laundering probe stemmed from a number of first data stories registered by the Maharashtra and Delhi police towards Variable Tech Non-public Restricted and several other individuals, together with the late Amit Bhardwaj, who was recognized by the investigating authorities because the mastermind behind the scheme. In response to the publicity draft, the defendants marketed the funding scheme below the banner “Earn Bitcoin” and promised traders a month-to-month return of 10%.
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Investigators declare that enormous quantities of Bitcoin have been collected from the general public on the pretext of getting used for mining operations. Somewhat, authorities allege, the funds have been diverted and hidden by way of digital wallets.
Suspicions concerning Bitcoin remittances
As a part of the investigation, the ED alleged that Kundra obtained 285 Bitcoins from Bhardwaj for the categorical goal of organising a Bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine. The company claimed that the proposed mining operations by no means befell and Kundra continued to carry the digital property. On the time of point out within the examine, the worth of Bitcoin is estimated to be over Rs 150 million.
In 2025, the ED had provisionally hooked up property value Rs 9,779 crore in reference to the case. These included a residential flat in Mumbai’s Juhu district registered within the title of Kundra’s spouse, actor Shilpa Shetty, and a bungalow in Pune.
In December, the courtroom accepted ED’s request to concern a letter of request to UAE authorities. The request seeks authorized help to implement a seizure order regarding actual property within the UAE that investigators say was acquired utilizing the proceeds of crime. The courtroom acknowledged that such help is critical to implement orders below the PMLA framework.
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