IPL scandal to arrest in pornography case: Raj Kundra’s biggest controversies

Raj Kundra is currently in headlines after he was arrested in an alleged pornography case and sent to police custody. The 45-year-old businessman, who is married to Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, has been named the ‘key conspirator’ in the probe. According to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, Hemant Nagrale, Raj Kundra has been arrested in a case that was registered with Crime Branch Mumbai in February 2021 about the creation of pornographic films and publishing them through apps. Apart from his alleged connection to the ongoing probe in the pornographic content case, here’s taking a look at other times when Raj Kundra landed in trouble:

Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra were owners of the Rajasthan Royals team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, in 2013, Raj was accused of betting and because of his alleged involvement, he was banned for life from cricket activities. In 2018, Raj Kundra filed a petition in Supreme Court after Delhi Police gave him a clean chit for the same. After being suspended for two years, the Rajasthan Royals team earned its place back in the tournament while Raj and Shilpa ended their association with the cricketing league.

Earlier this year, Raj Kundra hit headlines when Poonam Pandey filed a criminal case against the businessman. She claimed that Raj Kundra’s company managed her app and even after she terminated her contract, they continued to post her pictures and videos on the app. Poonam Pandey claimed her personal mobile number along with messages like ‘Call me now as I am free to talk’ and ‘Call me now. Let us talk and I will strip for you’ were leaked on the app. On his part, Raj Kundra stated that he had exited the said company in 2019 and was not aware about the petition.

Shilpa Shetty is Raj Kundra’s second wife and it was only recently that the businessman had opened up about his controversial first marriage. In an interview, Raj had revealed that his ex-wife Kavita had an extra-marital affair with his sister’s husband Vansh. “My mother caught my ex-wife and sister’s husband red handed, in compromising situations many times. Two families were spoiled here; they didn’t think twice!” a heartbroken Raj had told ETimes.

In October 2019, Raj Kundra was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection to his dealing with a real estate agent Ranjeet Bindra who was arrested in a money laundering case involving drug lord Iqbal Mirchi. He was questioned for several hours and had then told TOI in a statement, "I have provided whatever information ED required. My only deal with Ranjeet Bindra was acquiring a 50% stake in Bastian Hospitality. What his links are and what past transactions he has done were never known to me. As a management decision we have initiated the process to remove him as director of the company whilst the issue is in court."