By Neha Yadav

Copyright startuppedia

“The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has charged businessman Raj Kundra as an accused in its Bitcoin Ponzi scheme case on charges of being involved in transactions to cover up assets against attachment.Advertisment Read More: Bihar Friends Clock Rs 1.5 Cr Monthly By Selling Flavoured & Raw Makhanas In Bulk To 41+ Indian & International Food Brands The accusations Raj Kundra claimed he was only a facilitator for the transfer of 285 bitcoins worth about ₹150 crore on behalf of his Israeli business partner but produced no evidence, the ED said. The chargesheet also accuses Kundra and Bollywood actress-wife Shilpa Shetty of conducting a “sale transaction” of five flats in Juhu with no real change in possession. The agency states Shilpa remitted ₹38 crore to Kundra in the guise of buying these flats (well below market rates) with ₹24.9 crore transferred to a joint account, purportedly to forestall attachment of the property. The ED has also quoted statements by Shilpa where she has accepted that she had given financial support to her husband in order to secure their assets. Read More: Lucknow woman almost failed at engineering, then quit a Rs 1 Cr salary job in Dubai – now sells oat milk; clocked Rs 2.2 Cr revenue Previous Accusations Previously, in 2024, the ED had provisionally seized assets of ₹97.78 crore, including five Juhu flats worth ₹82.71 crore and a Pune bungalow worth ₹11.11 crore in proximity to Pawna Dam. The couple has contested these steps in the High Court. Read More: Meet Raipur Brothers Who Launched A Pure Masala Brand With Zip-lock Packs & Shook Up Players Like Everest & Catch – Clocked Rs 92 Cr Revenue Bitcoin Trail The case arose out of an FIR against Amit Bhardwaj, who runs gainbitcoin.com, for cheating investors based on promises of substantial returns on cryptocurrency mining. The ED alleged that Raj Kundra had received 285 bitcoins from Bhardwaj but failed to report wallet addresses. Kundra informed the agency that his iPhone X, with associated information, was broken in 2018. The ED suspects Kundra “intentionally caused destruction of evidence” by stating the phone to be out of order and not producing any documentary evidence of the bitcoin transaction to the Israeli counterpart. As per a report by The Indian Express, following the chargesheet, Raj Kundra had arranged Bhardwaj with his Israeli partner, Shlomi Amouyal, to invest in Ukraine-based mining ventures. Bhardwaj was to remit $5 million through bitcoins; the payment of $1 million was made, but the rest was never remitted, and the transaction was called off, and the bitcoins were lost. The ED claims that Kundra’s assertion of being merely a facilitator has no basis, citing discrepancies in the transactions and the absence of digital records. A second prosecution complaint filed on Thursday names Delhi businessman Rajesh Satija as well. The court will now consider arguments before deciding to take cognizance of the chargesheet. Read More: Delhi Startup Founded By 2 Childhood Friends Lets You Exercise On Water – Becomes First-Ever Floating Fitness Brand In India”