Shilpa Shetty's husband is arrested over alleged 'involvement in publishing pornography'

The husband of Bollywood star and Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty has been arrested for allegedly producing and broadcasting porn in India. 

Raj Kundra, 45, was arrested on Monday in Mumbai by police who said they have ‘sufficient evidence’ that he is a ‘key conspirator’ in a porn production ring. 

It is alleged that Kundra lured a woman into making a porn film with him, using the promise of getting her an acting job.

An investigation was launched on February 3 after a woman complained to the police about being forced to do the movie under the false pretences, according to the Press Trust of India.

It is just the latest scandal to hit Kundra, who was banned from all cricket-related activities in 2015 following claims of match fixing during his time as owner of the Rajasthan Royals alongside wife Shilpa, with whom he has two children.

Shilpa, a hugely successful Bollywood actress in her own right, shot to fame in Britain during the 2007 series of Celebrity Big Brother when she was racially abused by Jade Goody and other contestants.

The actress eventually won the series, and then reconciled with Jade during the British reality star’s battle with cervical cancer the following year. 

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty's (left) husband Raj Kundra (right) was arrested on Monday by Mumbai Police for 'key conspirator' role in a pornography-related case

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty’s (left) husband Raj Kundra (right) was arrested on Monday by Mumbai Police for ‘key conspirator’ role in a pornography-related case

Shilpa, a famous Bollywood actress in her own right, shot to fame in the UK in 2007 when she won Celebrity Big Brother after being racially abused by Jade Goody and other contestants

Shilpa, a famous Bollywood actress in her own right, shot to fame in the UK in 2007 when she won Celebrity Big Brother after being racially abused by Jade Goody and other contestants

Kundra allegedly set up the film company with his brother, registering it in the UK to evade Indian cyber laws. 

He reportedly left the company and has denied any wrongdoing.  

Publishing or transmitting ‘obscene’ material including porn is illegal in India under a 2015 law and punishable by up to seven years in jail. 

Model-actress Poonam Pandey has also reportedly filed a case against the businessman and his colleagues, claiming they illegally used her content. 

Kundra and his colleagues deny the claims and say they haven’t received any notice until now.  

Police apprehended nine people last week after actors were reportedly ‘forced’ to shoot naked scenes for porn films, which were then released or streamed on apps. 

Back in 2007, Shilpa shot to fame on the fifth series of Celebrity Big Brother and became embroiled in a race row with the late Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and S Club 7 star Jo O’Meara. 

Jade had entered the house with her mother Jackiey Budden and boyfriend Jack Tweed, with Jackiey quickly embroiled in arguments with multiple other housemates including Shilpa – claiming she was ‘unable to pronounce’ her name.

Jackiey was quickly evicted but friction between Jade and Shilpa continued, before the former made several racially-charged comments including claiming to be unable to pronounce Shilpa’s name. 

Shilpa was subjected to taunts about her name and Indian culture during the explosive show, which sparked a national debate about racist language

Shilpa was subjected to taunts about her name and Indian culture during the explosive show, which sparked a national debate about racist language

Kundra, a businessman, has been in trouble with police before - in 2015 he was banned from all cricket-related activities after a team he owned was accused of match fixing

Kundra, a businessman, has been in trouble with police before – in 2015 he was banned from all cricket-related activities after a team he owned was accused of match fixing

Jade was evicted shortly afterwards in a match-up against Shilpa, who received 83 per cent of the public vote.

She left the house without an audience due to the public backlash and the number of complaints Ofcom had received about her remarks –  around 45,000.

Shilpa ultimately went on to win the series.

Channel 4 initially tried to downplay the row as ‘girly rivalry’ and a ‘cultural clash’, but was forced to issue an apology for ‘editorial misjudgments’ after an Ofcom ruling.  

The episode sparked a national debate about what is considered racist language, with one newspaper running the headline ‘Beauty v Bigot’. 

Jade initially tried to defend herself against allegations of racism but ultimately conceded that she had been in the wrong, before agreeing to go on Indian reality TV show Bigg Boss as a way of making amends.

But just two days into filming, Jade was diagnosed with cervical cancer and flown home for treatment.

She and Shilpa reconciled during her public cancer battle during which she underwent chemotherapy, and even visited her a few days before her death.

Jade passed away in March 2009.  

Last year, Kundra and wife Shilpa welcomed their second child via surrogate. 

The couple announced their baby joy via Instagram, with Shilpa telling fans that the newborn has ‘completed our family’. 

She shared the first picture of her daughter Samisha, who arrived on 15 February, to social media. 

Shilpa and husband Raj married in 2009. The are also parents to son Viaan Raj who was born in May 2012, three years after the couple tied the knot.  

source: dailymail.co.uk