Enforcement Directorate has filed a Prosecution Complaint (chargesheet) against Ripu Sudan Kundra (Shilpa Shetty’s husband) in a money laundering case revolving around “bitcoin scam” ED initiated investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by Maharashtra Police and Delhi Police against M/s Variable Tech Pte Ltd, Late Amit Bhardwaj, Ajay Bhardwaj, Vivek Bhardwaj, Simpy Bhardwaj, Mahender Bhardwaj and number of MLM agents, wherein it has been alleged that they had collected huge amounts of funds in the form of Bitcoins (worth Rs 6600 Crore in 2017 itself) from the gullible public with the false promises of 10% per month return in the form of Bitcoins. The collected Bitcoins were supposed to be utilized for Bitcoin mining and investors were supposed to get huge returns in Crypto assets. But the promoters cheated the investors and have been concealing the ill gotten Bitcoins in obscure online wallets. “ED investigation revealed that Raj Kundra received 285 Bitcoins from the master mind and promoter of Gain Bitcoin Ponzi Scam Amit Bhardwaj for setting up Bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine,” ED had said in a statement in April 2024. “The said Bitcoins were sourced out of proceeds of crime collected by Amit Bhardwaj from gullible investors. Since the deal didn’t materialize, Kundra is still in possession and enjoyment of 285 Bitcoins which are presently valued at more than Rs. 150 Crore,” ED had said. ED had arrested three persons Simpy Bhardwaj on 17.12.2023, Nitin Gaur on 29.12.2023 and Nikhil Mahajan on 16.01.2023. They are in judicial custody. The main accused Ajay Bhardwaj and Mahendra Bhardwaj are still absconding.
-Reported By Bhavatosh Singh