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{{copy edit|date=January 2024}}
{{short description|British businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Raj Kundra
| name = Raj Kundra
| image = Photos-Shilpa-Shetty-and-Raj-Kundra-at-Bastian-in-Lower-Parel-2 (cropped).jpg
| image = Raj_kundra.jpg
⚫
| caption = Kundra in 2020
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|09|9|df=yes}}

⚫
| birth_place = [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]
⚫
| birth_name = Ripu Sudan Kundra
| occupation = Entrepreneur
| birth_date =
⚫
| birth_name = Raj Kundra
⚫
| birth_place = [[London]], England<ref name=Mint20090211/>
| yearsactive =
| nationality = [[British Indians|British-Indian]]
⚫
| website = [http://rajkundra.net/ rajkundra.net]
| occupation = [[Businessman]]
| spouse = [[Kavita Kundra]] <small>(2005–2007)</small>
| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Kavita Kundra|2003|2006|reason=div}}|{{marriage|[[Shilpa Shetty]]|2009}}}}
[[Shilpa Shetty]] <small>(2009–present)</small>
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| website = {{URL|http://rajkundra.net}}
| children = One daughter with first wife, one son with Shilpa Shetty
| signature =
| children = 3
}}
}}


'''Raj Kundra''' is a [[British Indians|British-Indian]] businessman and part time actor, who was ranked as the 198th richest [[British Asian]] by ''[[Success (magazine)|Success]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/people/raj-kundra-rise-from-a-pashmina-trader-to-an-international-entrepreneur/198th-richest-british-asian/slideshow/20476067.cms |title= Raj Kundra: Rise from a Pashmina trader to an international entrepreneur | publisher = Economic Times| access-date= 7 June 2013 }}</ref>
⚫
'''Raj Kundra''' (born 9 September 1975){{cn|date=December 2011}} is a British Indian businessman who also has interests in both [[cricket]] and [[mixed martial arts]]. He is married to [[Shilpa Shetty]], the [[Bollywood]] actress.


⚫
Kundra has made investments across a range of interests, including [[cricket]] and [[mixed martial arts]]. He has been married to [[Shilpa Shetty]], an [[Actor|Indian actress]], since 2009.
==Life==
<ref name=Mint20090211>{{cite newspaper |title=It's not about getting the best players, but making the weakest stronger |first=Gouri |last=Shah |newspaper=Mint |location=Delhi |date=11 February 2009 |url=http://www.rajkundra.net/assets/news/1.pdf |accessdate=2011-12-27}}</ref> His ancestors came from Punjab.<ref name=BC20090203>{{cite web |title=Rajasthan Royals agrees to take strategic investment from Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty |date=3 February 2009 |publisher=Blenheim Chalcot |location=London |url=http://www.blenheimchalcot.com/press_releases.aspx |accessdate=2011-12-27}}</ref> He left school at the age of 18 and in 2004 was ranked by ''[[SUCCESS (magazine)|SUCCESS]]'' magazine as the 198th richest [[British Asian]]. {{As of|2009}}, Kundra was [[Chief Executive Officer]] of Essential General Trading LLC, which was described in a press release as being "a Dubai-based international trading company dealing in precious metals, construction, mining and green renewable energy projects". He was also at that time involved in the financing and production of Bollywood movies.<ref name=BC20090203 />


== Early life ==
A college drop-out, Kundra galloped to the good life. His father started out as a worker in a London cotton factory but went on to do bigger things like buying drug stores. At 18, his father asked him to get serious about his career, says a newspaper article. Kundra ventured out and struck gold in Nepal. He bought pashmina shawls, sold them to all major fashion houses in Britain and made his first millions. Then he got into diamond trading in Dubai
Raj Kundra was born in [[London, England]] to [[Indian people|Indian]] immigrants.<ref name=Mint20090211>{{cite news |title=It's not about getting the best players, but making the weakest stronger |first=Gouri |last=Shah |newspaper=Mint |location=Delhi |date=11 February 2009 |url=http://www.rajkundra.net/assets/news/1.pdf |access-date=27 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125005344/http://www.rajkundra.net/assets/news/1.pdf |archive-date=25 November 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Kundra's parents were [[Punjabi Hindus]] from [[Raipur, Mansa]]. Kundra grew up in a [[middle-class]] family. His father, Bal Krishan Kundra worked as a [[bus conductor]] in London before running a [[small business]]. His mother, Usha Rani Kundra worked as a [[shop assistant]].<ref name="archives.Deccan Chronicle">{{cite news |url=http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130607/news-current-affairs/article/raj-kundra-bus-conductor%E2%80%99s-son-biz-tycoon |title=Raj Kundra, from bus conductor's son to biz tycoon |date=7 June 2013 |work=Deccan Chronicle |access-date=12 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052516/http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130607/news-current-affairs/article/raj-kundra-bus-conductor%E2%80%99s-son-biz-tycoon |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


At the age of 18, Kundra relocated to [[Dubai]] and later [[Nepal]] where he started a business selling [[Kashmir shawl|pashmina shawls]] to [[fashion retailer]]s in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and made his first couple of [[million]]s.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Raj-Kundra-a-college-drop-out-who-first-made-it-big-selling-pashmina-shawls/articleshow/20467799.cms|title=Raj Kundra, a college drop-out who first made it big selling pashmina shawls|work=Times of India|date=7 June 2013 |access-date=7 June 2013}}</ref> In 2007, he moved to Dubai and set up Essential General Trading LLC, a company dealing in precious [[metal]]s, [[construction]], [[mining]] and [[renewable energy]] projects. He was also at that time involved in the [[financing]] and [[film production|production]] of [[Hindi cinema|Bollywood films]].<ref name="BC20090203">{{cite web |title=Rajasthan Royals agrees to take strategic investment from Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty |date=3 February 2009 |publisher=Blenheim Chalcot |location=London |url=http://www.blenheimchalcot.com/press_releases.aspx |access-date=27 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307191616/http://www.blenheimchalcot.com/press_releases.aspx |archive-date=7 March 2012}}</ref>
Kundra married Shilpa Shetty, a Bollywood actress, on 22 November 2009.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Thank-god-Ill-marry-only-once-Shilpa/articleshow/5281437.cms | work=The Times Of India | title=Thank god, I'll marry only once: Shilpa | date=30 November 2009}}</ref> Their son was born on 21 May 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/report-shilpa-shetty-gives-birth-to-a-baby-boy/20120521.htm |title=Shilpa Shetty gives birth to a baby boy |date=21 May 2012 |publisher=Rediff |accessdate=2012-06-07}}</ref>


Kundra has been married twice, first to Kavita Kundra, with whom he has a daughter.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/film-and-tv/shilpa-wrecked-my-marriage-999804 |work=Manchester Evening News |title=Shilpa Wrecked My Marriage |date=13 January 2013 |access-date=17 May 2019}}</ref> The couple later divorced. On 22 November 2009 Kundra married Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Thank-god-Ill-marry-only-once-Shilpa/articleshow/5281437.cms | title=Thank god, I'll marry only once: Shilpa | date=30 November 2009 | access-date=1 July 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616161245/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-30/news-interviews/28103353_1_shilpa-shetty-kundra-wedding-receptions-mediterranean-cruise | archive-date=16 June 2013 | url-status=live | work=[[The Times of India]] | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Kundra and Shetty have a son, born on 21 May 2012,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/report-shilpa-shetty-gives-birth-to-a-baby-boy/20120521.htm |title=Shilpa Shetty gives birth to a baby boy |date=21 May 2012 |publisher=Rediff |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614072813/http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/report-shilpa-shetty-gives-birth-to-a-baby-boy/20120521.htm |archive-date=14 June 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> and a daughter, born through [[surrogacy]] on 15 February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2020/02/21/shilpa-shetty-husband-welcome-baby-girl-born-through-surrogacy.html|title=Shilpa Shetty, husband welcome baby girl born through surrogacy|website=The Week|language=en|access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref>
Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra are loving parents to Viaan but Raj Kundra has definitely not been loving enough to his first born, his daughter Deleena on whose birth he gifted her mom and his first wife Kavita Kundra with a divorce notice. Raj ended their marriage in November 2006, just weeks after Kavita Kundra had given birth to their daughter Deleena, who was born on September 9.


Kundra is also involved with his wife's [[Charitable organization|charitable organisation]], the Shilpa Shetty Foundation.<ref name=Mint20090211 /> His book titled, ''How Not to Make Money'' was published in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Raj Kundra's book now a British crime-thriller|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Raj-Kundras-book-now-a-British-crime-thriller/articleshow/48538535.cms|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=19 August 2015 |access-date=19 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123215618/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Raj-Kundras-book-now-a-British-crime-thriller/articleshow/48538535.cms|archive-date=23 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
Kundra had earlier been married to Kavita, and the couple was going through a difficult marriage. Kavita claims that Shilpa Shetty broke the marriage, and that Kundra began to insist on a divorce<ref>http://nriinternet.com/ENTERTAINMENT/Producers/A_Z/K/Raj_Kundra/</ref> after meeting Shilpa Shetty. Shilpa Shetty said in an interview that she is not a marriage-breaker.<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-505102/I-didnt-break-anyones-marriage-Unrepentant-Shilpa-Shetty-answers-ex-wife-accused-stealing-man.html</ref> Raj Kundra and Kavita Kundra have a daughter, and Raj Kundra says that he does not meet the daughter after his "dirty divorce" because he does not wish to confuse the child about a father who is in “her life and yet not being in her life”.<ref>http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/man-of-the-match-112072100061_1.html</ref>


His businesses included Satyug Gold, [[Super Fight League]], and more recently, Bastian Hospitality - a [[restaurant chain]] in [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Raj-Kundra-a-college-drop-out-who-first-made-it-big-selling-pashmina-shawls/articleshow/20467799.cms | title= Raj Kundra, a college drop-out who first made it big selling pashmina shawls | work = The Times Of India | date= 7 June 2013 | access-date = 7 June 2013 }}</ref>
Kundra is involved with a charitable organisation called the Shilpa Shetty Foundation.<ref name=Mint20090211 />


In 2015, Kundra was among the promoters of online and television broadcast platform [[Best Deal TV]], an Indian television home shopping channel capitalising on celebrity endorsements. His co-promoter was Bollywood actor [[Akshay Kumar]].<ref name="business-standard.com">{{cite news|title=Home shopping channel Best Deal TV to raise Rs 100 cr|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/best-deal-tv-to-raise-rs-100-cr-115051901327_1.html|website=[[Business Standard]]|date=20 May 2015|access-date=20 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916164420/http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/best-deal-tv-to-raise-rs-100-cr-115051901327_1.html|archive-date=16 September 2015|url-status=live|last1=Malvania|first1=Urvi}}</ref>
==Indian Premier League==
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{{main|Rajasthan Royals}}


Under the [[Indian government|Indian government's]] [[Startup India Seed Fund Scheme|Startup India initiative]], Kundra is set to launch India's first [[Livestreaming|live streaming]] [[Social media apps|social media app]], Jaldi Live Stream [[Mobile application|App]] which will allow professional as well as amateur streamers to live stream their content.<ref name="Economic Times">{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/newsbuzz/raj-kundra-to-launch-made-in-india-live-streaming-platform/articleshow/78251312.cms|title=Raj Kundra to launch 'Made in India' live streaming platform|newspaper=Economic Times|date=22 September 2020 |access-date=22 September 2020 |last1=Laghate |first1=Gaurav }}</ref>
In 2009 Kundra and Shetty invested in the [[Indian Premier League]] [[cricket]] team [[Rajasthan Royals]] using an [[offshore company]] based in Mauritius as the vehicle for doing so. The couple hoped to use Shetty's image and status as a "global brand" as a means of boosting the image of the team through merchandising and media exposure, as well as attracting sponsors.<ref name=Mint20090211 /><ref name=BC20090203 />


=== Betting allegations ===
== Indian Premier League ==
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{{Main|Rajasthan Royals}}


In 2009, Kundra and Shetty invested in the [[Indian Premier League |Indian Premier League cricket]] team [[Rajasthan Royals]] using an offshore company based in [[Mauritius]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/shilpa-shetty-partner-buy-12-in-rajasthan-royals-109020400008_1.html|publisher= Business Standard |title= Shilpa Shetty, partner buy 12% in Rajasthan Royals
As a follow-up to the [[2013_Indian_Premier_League_spot-fixing_case|IPL 2013 Match fixing controversy]], which started with the arrests of Raj Kundra's team Rajasthan Royals' players [[S Sreesanth]], [[Ankeet_Chavan|Ankeet Chavan]] and [[Ajit Chandila]], the [[Delhi Police]] interrogated Kundra for about 11 hours on June 2013. As quoted by the Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar on June 06, 2013, Mr. Kundra had admitted to betting through bookie Umesh Goenka and also that he had lost huge amount by betting on his own team. The Delhi Police also seized his passport as part of the investigation, and he was told not to leave the country as he might be questioned on this further.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/fixing-hits-ipl-6/news/Raj-Kundra-confesses-to-betting-in-IPL-Delhi-Police/articleshow/20457677.cms | title=Raj Kundra confesses to betting in IPL: Delhi Police | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=6 June 2013 | accessdate=6 June 2013 | author=Times News Network}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cricketnext/delhi-police-probing-if-raj-kundra-was-betting-on-rr-matches-sources/396706-78.html | title=Raj Kundra has admitted to betting in the IPL, says Delhi Police chief | publisher=IBNLive.com | date=6 June 2013 | accessdate=6 June 2013 | author=Sengupta, Subhajit and Tewari, Vinay}}</ref>
|newspaper= Business Standard India |date= 4 February 2009 |access-date=25 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/thin-dividing-line-ties-between-ipl-team-owners-and-offshore-dealings-117120801381_1.html|title=Thin Dividing Line: Ties between IPL team owners and offshore dealings |newspaper=Business Standard India |date=8 December 2017 |publisher=Business Standard |access-date=16 December 2019|last1=Thakurta |first1=Paranjoy Guha }}</ref> The legality of the investment was questioned by departments of the Government of India.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/eye-on-rr-money/story-286MEcUCfIZBSBgSF1p8cL.html|title=Eye on RR money |date=22 April 2010 |publisher=Hindustan Times |access-date=22 April 2010}}</ref>
It should be noted that Kundra is a close friend<ref>http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/man-of-the-match-112072100061_1.html</ref> of Vindoo Dara Singh, who was arrested for betting on IPL matches in May 2013.
Kundra and Shetty are also accused for the crime but it is not yet been proved against them. If it is proved against them both the teams Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings can be removed from IPL.
b


In June 2013, Kundra was questioned by [[Delhi Police]] with regard to the 2013 [[Indian Premier League]] spot-fixing case,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/ipl-spot-fixing-rajasthan-royals-owner-raj-kundra-questioned-by-delhi-police/20130605.htm |title=Rajasthan Royals owner Raj Kundra questioned by Delhi Police|publisher=Rediff |access-date=5 June 2013}}</ref> which had involved the [[arrest]] of some Rajasthan Royals players, further Delhi police have given a clean chit to Kundra in reply on [[right to information]] (RTI).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ipl-spot-fixing-scandal-meiyappan-kundra-get-clean-chit-srinivasan-may-return-as-bcci-chief/articleshow/21425875.cms|title=IPL spot-fixing scandal: Meiyappan, Kundra get clean chit; Srinivasan may return as BCCI chief|newspaper= Economic Times|access-date=29 July 2013}}</ref> In July 2015 a panel appointed by the [[Supreme Court of India]] imposed a life ban from the cricket-related activity on him. Further, Kundra denied the involvement and appeal to the Supreme Court of India.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/news/raj-kundra-files-petition-in-supreme-court-following-clearance-on-ipl-betting-scandal-from-delhi-police-697149|title=Raj Kundra files petition in Supreme Court following clearance on IPL betting scandal from Delhi Police|date=30 March 2018|publisher=CricketCountry|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/cricket/300318/ipl-spot-fixing-banished-raj-kundra-files-petition-in-sc-hopes-to-ov.html|title= IPL spot-fixing: Banished Raj Kundra files petition in SC, hopes to overturn ban|date= 30 March 2018|publisher=Deccan Chronocale|access-date= 30 March 2018}}</ref>
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==Super Fight League==


Umesh Goenka, a business partner of Raj Kundra claimed in a [[court]] that he was forced to implicate Kundra in [[betting]] by Delhi Police and to save himself from [[physical torture]] and from being charged under [[Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/delhi-police-forced-me-to-implicate-kundra-partner/articleshow/35908813.cms|title=Delhi police forced me to implicate Kundra: Partner |publisher=Ahamedabad Mirror|access-date=13 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/video/ipl-spot-fixing-umesh-goenka-delhi-police-bashing-confession-india-today-420304-2013-06-12|title=IPL Spot Fixing Umesh Goenka Delhi Police Bashing Confession|date=12 June 2013 |publisher=India Today|access-date=12 June 2013}}</ref>
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Kundra and Bollywood star [[Sanjay Dutt]] together launched India's first professionally organized mixed martial arts fighting league&nbsp;— the [[Super Fight League]] - on 16 January 2012.<ref name=TOI01172012>{{cite newspaper |title=Ready for the Super Fight League? |newspaper=The Times Of India |location=Mumbai |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Ready-for-the-Super-Fight-League/articleshow/11511191.cms|first=Roshni |last=Olivera |accessdate=2012-01-19}}</ref>


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== Super Fight League ==
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==References==
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Kundra and [[Bollywood]] star [[Sanjay Dutt]] launched India's first professional mixed martial arts fighting league, the [[Super Fight League]], on 16 January 2012.<ref name=TOI01172012>{{cite news |title=Ready for the Super Fight League? |location=Mumbai |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Ready-for-the-Super-Fight-League/articleshow/11511191.cms |first=Roshni |last=Olivera |access-date=19 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212031726/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-17/news-interviews/30632385_1_mma-sport-fight-night |archive-date=12 December 2013 |url-status=live |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref>

== Awards and honours ==
Kundra was awarded the [[Champions of Change (award)|Champions of Change Award]] in 2019, for his involvement with [[Swachh Bharat Mission]]. The award was conferred by former [[President of India]] [[Pranab Mukherjee]] at [[Vigyan Bhavan]] [[New Delhi]] on 20 January 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title='Sparsh Ganga initiative' wins Champions of Change Award |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2020/jan/22/sparsh-ganga-initiative-wins-champions-of-change-award-2092664.html |newspaper=The New Indian Express | date=22 January 2020 | access-date=18 November 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=जानें क्यों शिल्पा और राज को मिला 'चैंपियन ऑफ चेंज अवॉर्ड', 'स्वच्छ भारत अभियान' से है कनेक्शन |url=https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/bollywood/shilpa-shetty-and-raj-kundra-awarded-the-champion-of-change-2019-award-from-pranab-mukherjee |work=Amar Ujala}}</ref>

==Controversy==
Kundra was arrested in July 2021 on charges of producing [[Pornographic film|pornographic]] content. He is still an owner of Hot shots and was booked under relevant sections of the [[Indian Penal Code]] (IPC), the [[Information Technology Act, 2000]] and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act. People reported him to be in jail but Central Government did not take strong actions against him. Later on, he was granted [[bail]] in September 2021 by a [[Courts of Metropolitan Magistrates, India|metropolitan magistrate's court]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-21 |title=One year after being released from jail, Raj Kundra posts: 'If you don't know the whole story, shut up' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/raj-kundra-one-year-of-being-released-from-jail-if-you-dont-know-the-whole-story-shut-up-8163856/ |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

On 3 November 2023, a film on the controversy titled ''[[UT 69]]'' was released. Kundra himself played the lead role and presented experiences of his days in prison.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ut69-trailer-shilpa-shetty-husband-raj-kundra-plays-himself-gives-glimpse-of-his-life-inside-jail-101697629400340.html|title=UT69 trailer: Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra plays himself, gives glimpse of his life inside jail. Watch|date=18 October 2023|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

The Enforcement Directorate attached his properties worth 97 crores in Bitcoin investment fraud case which was alleged to be a ponzi scheme.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-18 |title=ED attaches Raj Kundra's properties worth Rs 97.79 crore in Bitcoin investment fraud case |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/ed-raj-kundra-shilpa-shetty-properties-bitcoin-investment-fraud-case-9277283/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

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== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
⚫
| NAME = Kundra, Raj
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = British businessman
| DATE OF BIRTH = 9 Sep 1975
| PLACE OF BIRTH = London
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kundra, Raj}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kundra, Raj}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from London]]
[[Category:British businesspeople]]
[[Category:English Hindus]]
[[Category:English people of Punjabi descent]]
[[Category:British businesspeople of Indian descent]]
[[Category:British expatriates in India]]
[[Category:Indian Premier League franchise owners]]
[[Category:Indian Premier League franchise owners]]
[[Category:English people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]

Latest revision as of 19:43, 8 December 2024

Raj Kundra
Kundra in 2020
Born
Ripu Sudan Kundra

London, England[1]
NationalityBritish-Indian
OccupationBusinessman
Spouses
  • Kavita Kundra
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2003; div. 2006)​
  • ​
    (m. 2009)​
Children3
Websiterajkundra.net

Raj Kundra is a British-Indian businessman and part time actor, who was ranked as the 198th richest British Asian by Success.[2]

Kundra has made investments across a range of interests, including cricket and mixed martial arts. He has been married to Shilpa Shetty, an Indian actress, since 2009.

Early life

[edit]

Raj Kundra was born in London, England to Indian immigrants.[1] Kundra's parents were Punjabi Hindus from Raipur, Mansa. Kundra grew up in a middle-class family. His father, Bal Krishan Kundra worked as a bus conductor in London before running a small business. His mother, Usha Rani Kundra worked as a shop assistant.[3]

At the age of 18, Kundra relocated to Dubai and later Nepal where he started a business selling pashmina shawls to fashion retailers in Britain and made his first couple of millions.[4] In 2007, he moved to Dubai and set up Essential General Trading LLC, a company dealing in precious metals, construction, mining and renewable energy projects. He was also at that time involved in the financing and production of Bollywood films.[5]

Kundra has been married twice, first to Kavita Kundra, with whom he has a daughter.[6] The couple later divorced. On 22 November 2009 Kundra married Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.[7] Kundra and Shetty have a son, born on 21 May 2012,[8] and a daughter, born through surrogacy on 15 February 2020.[9]

Kundra is also involved with his wife's charitable organisation, the Shilpa Shetty Foundation.[1] His book titled, How Not to Make Money was published in 2013.[10]

His businesses included Satyug Gold, Super Fight League, and more recently, Bastian Hospitality - a restaurant chain in Mumbai.[11]

In 2015, Kundra was among the promoters of online and television broadcast platform Best Deal TV, an Indian television home shopping channel capitalising on celebrity endorsements. His co-promoter was Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar.[12]

Under the Indian government's Startup India initiative, Kundra is set to launch India's first live streaming social media app, Jaldi Live Stream App which will allow professional as well as amateur streamers to live stream their content.[13]

Indian Premier League

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Main article: Rajasthan Royals

In 2009, Kundra and Shetty invested in the Indian Premier League cricket team Rajasthan Royals using an offshore company based in Mauritius.[14][15] The legality of the investment was questioned by departments of the Government of India.[16]

In June 2013, Kundra was questioned by Delhi Police with regard to the 2013 Indian Premier League spot-fixing case,[17] which had involved the arrest of some Rajasthan Royals players, further Delhi police have given a clean chit to Kundra in reply on right to information (RTI).[18] In July 2015 a panel appointed by the Supreme Court of India imposed a life ban from the cricket-related activity on him. Further, Kundra denied the involvement and appeal to the Supreme Court of India.[19][20]

Umesh Goenka, a business partner of Raj Kundra claimed in a court that he was forced to implicate Kundra in betting by Delhi Police and to save himself from physical torture and from being charged under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.[21][22]

Super Fight League

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Kundra and Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt launched India's first professional mixed martial arts fighting league, the Super Fight League, on 16 January 2012.[23]

Awards and honours

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Kundra was awarded the Champions of Change Award in 2019, for his involvement with Swachh Bharat Mission. The award was conferred by former President of India Pranab Mukherjee at Vigyan Bhavan New Delhi on 20 January 2020.[24][25]

Controversy

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Kundra was arrested in July 2021 on charges of producing pornographic content. He is still an owner of Hot shots and was booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act. People reported him to be in jail but Central Government did not take strong actions against him. Later on, he was granted bail in September 2021 by a metropolitan magistrate's court.[26]

On 3 November 2023, a film on the controversy titled UT 69 was released. Kundra himself played the lead role and presented experiences of his days in prison.[27]

The Enforcement Directorate attached his properties worth 97 crores in Bitcoin investment fraud case which was alleged to be a ponzi scheme.[28]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Shah, Gouri (11 February 2009). "It's not about getting the best players, but making the weakest stronger" (PDF). Mint. Delhi. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Raj Kundra: Rise from a Pashmina trader to an international entrepreneur". Economic Times. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Raj Kundra, from bus conductor's son to biz tycoon". Deccan Chronicle. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Raj Kundra, a college drop-out who first made it big selling pashmina shawls". Times of India. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Rajasthan Royals agrees to take strategic investment from Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty". London: Blenheim Chalcot. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Shilpa Wrecked My Marriage". Manchester Evening News. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
  7. ^ "Thank god, I'll marry only once: Shilpa". The Times of India. 30 November 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  8. ^ "Shilpa Shetty gives birth to a baby boy". Rediff. 21 May 2012. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  9. ^ "Shilpa Shetty, husband welcome baby girl born through surrogacy". The Week. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Raj Kundra's book now a British crime-thriller". The Times of India. 19 August 2015. Archived from the original on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  11. ^ "Raj Kundra, a college drop-out who first made it big selling pashmina shawls". The Times Of India. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  12. ^ Malvania, Urvi (20 May 2015). "Home shopping channel Best Deal TV to raise Rs 100 cr". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  13. ^ Laghate, Gaurav (22 September 2020). "Raj Kundra to launch 'Made in India' live streaming platform". Economic Times. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Shilpa Shetty, partner buy 12% in Rajasthan Royals". Business Standard India. Business Standard. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  15. ^ Thakurta, Paranjoy Guha (8 December 2017). "Thin Dividing Line: Ties between IPL team owners and offshore dealings". Business Standard India. Business Standard. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Eye on RR money". Hindustan Times. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  17. ^ "Rajasthan Royals owner Raj Kundra questioned by Delhi Police". Rediff. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  18. ^ "IPL spot-fixing scandal: Meiyappan, Kundra get clean chit; Srinivasan may return as BCCI chief". Economic Times. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  19. ^ "Raj Kundra files petition in Supreme Court following clearance on IPL betting scandal from Delhi Police". CricketCountry. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  20. ^ "IPL spot-fixing: Banished Raj Kundra files petition in SC, hopes to overturn ban". Deccan Chronocale. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Delhi police forced me to implicate Kundra: Partner". Ahamedabad Mirror. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  22. ^ "IPL Spot Fixing Umesh Goenka Delhi Police Bashing Confession". India Today. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  23. ^ Olivera, Roshni. "Ready for the Super Fight League?". The Times of India. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  24. ^ "'Sparsh Ganga initiative' wins Champions of Change Award". The New Indian Express. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  25. ^ "जानें क्यों शिल्पा और राज को मिला 'चैंपियन ऑफ चेंज अवॉर्ड', 'स्वच्छ भारत अभियान' से है कनेक्शन". Amar Ujala.
  26. ^ "One year after being released from jail, Raj Kundra posts: 'If you don't know the whole story, shut up'". The Indian Express. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  27. ^ "UT69 trailer: Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra plays himself, gives glimpse of his life inside jail. Watch". Hindustan Times. 18 October 2023.
  28. ^ "ED attaches Raj Kundra's properties worth Rs 97.79 crore in Bitcoin investment fraud case". The Indian Express. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
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