A special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in Mumbai has taken cognizance of a supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate and issued summons to prominent businessman Raj Kundra, husband of actress Shilpa Shetty, in connection with a high-profile Bitcoin Ponzi scheme. The court has directed Kundra to appear before it on January 19, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving cryptocurrency.

Alongside Kundra, summons have also been issued to Dubai-based businessman Rajesh Satija, with both individuals added as accused in the case last September. The ED's probe centers on allegations that Kundra received 285 Bitcoins from Amit Bhardwaj, identified as the mastermind behind the Gain Bitcoin scam, intended for establishing a Bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine—a project that ultimately failed to materialize.

According to the chargesheet, Kundra remains in possession of these 285 Bitcoins, which were claimed to be proceeds of crime and originally valued at over Rs 150 crore, though their current worth has surged significantly amid fluctuating cryptocurrency markets. The agency has asserted that Kundra's role extended beyond that of a mere mediator, pointing to a signed "Term Sheet" agreement with Mahendra Bhardwaj as evidence contradicting his claims.

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Investigators have highlighted Kundra's precise recollection of the Bitcoin transfers in five specific tranches over seven years as indicative of him being the beneficial owner rather than an intermediary. Furthermore, despite repeated opportunities since 2018, Kundra has not disclosed the wallet addresses holding the cryptocurrencies, citing damage to his iPhone X shortly after his initial statement—an explanation the ED interprets as a potential effort to obstruct justice and conceal illicit assets.

This latest judicial action intensifies scrutiny on the case, which involves a broader Ponzi scheme that defrauded numerous investors through promises of high returns on Bitcoin investments. As the court date approaches, authorities continue to examine the trail of digital assets and related transactions to uncover the full extent of the alleged money laundering activities.

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