Porn racket: ‘Kamat sent porn videos to UK firm through its director’

Umesh Kamat

Investigation into a pornographic racket, which was busted by the property cell of the Crime Branch, has brought the director of a UK-based company under the scanner. According to the police, accused Umesh Kamat arrested in the matter on Monday, have told them that he used to send pornographic videos to Kernin Limited in the UK and would coordinate with Pradeep Bakshi, who is believed to be a director of the firm.

The Crime Branch has so far arrested eight people in the case, including actor-model Gehana Vasisth for shooting the videos and forcing aspiring actresses to be part of the racket. Crime Branch officers said that Kamat's interrogation revealed that Kernin Limited is involved mainly in video production activities, television programming and broadcasting activities. "We are verifying the details based on the evidence we have collected so far. Bakshi's role is also being investigated," an officer said.

The probe has further revealed that Kamat was working as a consultant for Kernin Limited and was also associated with a private company Viaan Industries Limited. Initially, the cops learnt that he resigned from the company in 2017 but later got to know that he joined back in a key managerial post. "We found a letter on the company website which clearly states that he was appointed in a key managerial post in December last year," the officer added.

In the letter uploaded by Viaan Industries on their website after the December 19 board meeting states, "The board approved the appointment of Umesh Kamat as additional director and managing director of the company with effect from December 19, 2020, subject to shareholder's approval." Meanwhile, the crime branch has also written to the banks in which Vasisth and Kamat have their bank accounts and sought their transaction details.