Raj Kundra, the millionaire husband of Bollywood superstar Shilpa Shetty, has applied for bail after being charged on distribution of porn charges in India.

Kundra was arrested on 19 July, along with 11 others, on suspicion of producing and distributing pornographic films, and was sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

He applied for bail, but his request was rejected at a court hearing.

In his application, Kundra, who married Shilpa Shetty in 2009, claimed the material which he allegedly disseminated through apps was not pornographic, and at the most it could be described as “lascivious”.

Publishing and screening “obscene material” in India is illegal, but watching it in private is permitted.

He also alleged that the police had not issued any notice before arrest, which is mandatory.

Police said Kundra had refused to accept the notice, and that he had refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Kundra’s case was registered in February, when police say allegations were made by a woman who said she was forced to take part in a pornographic film in return for an acting job.

In the latest development, Shetty has taken a number of news publications and social media companies to the High Court in Bombay, to stop the publication of what she claims is “incorrect, false, malicious, and defamatory information” against her.

Subscribe to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

She said the platforms were “smearing” her reputation by publishing “sensationalised” content against her.

A hearing was due to be held on Friday.

Shetty has been questioned twice so far by the police. She was also a partner in Raj Kundra’s company that created the HotShots app.

She resigned from the post last year. Police officials told reporters no evidence tying her to the alleged pornographic operation had been found and that she had no involvement in the case.

Related posts:

Is India’s COVID crisis spilling into neighbouring countries? ‘Dambusters’ squadron to join fight against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria Herd of elephants cause $1m worth of damage as they trek more than 300 miles across China Luxembourg PM admitted to hospital after catching COVID Thousands evacuated after deadly Thailand factory explosion shakes airport and nearby homes UK could launch airstrikes from outside Afghanistan against future terror threats, minister says Ex-Marseille president who led club to glory and disgrace dies aged 78 ‘Hi. Nice to meet you’: North Korea uses robots to teach English and ‘enhance children’s intelligence’ Who to believe as West and Russia wage information war over Ukraine West and Russia wage information war over Ukraine Senegal win first ever African Cup of Nations title after beating Egypt 4-2 on penalties in final ‘There was a huge misunderstanding’ – Tennis star repeats sexual assault denial