Raj Kundra

Here’s a profile of Raj Kundra along with key facts and controversies.

Raj Kundra – Biography & Career

Full Name: Ripu Sudan “Raj” Kundra Date of Birth: September 9, 1975 Place of Birth / Nationality: London, United Kingdom; British-Indian businessman

Early Life & Background

• Raj Kundra was born into a Punjabi Hindu family. His father, Bal Krishan Kundra, initially worked as a bus conductor in London before starting a small business; his mother, Usha Rani Kundra, worked as a shop assistant.

• He spent his early life in London and reportedly moved to Dubai/Nepal around age 18 to begin entrepreneurial ventures, beginning by trading pashmina shawls from Nepal to markets in Britain.

Business Ventures & Investments

Kundra has diversified business interests across many sectors:

• Essential General Trading LLC (Dubai): Deals in precious metals, construction, mining, renewable energy.

• Home Shopping / Media: He co-founded Best Deal TV, a celebrity-driven home shopping channel in India.

• Sports / Mixed Martial Arts: He is a co-founder / promoter of the Super Fight League, India’s MMA promotion (with Sanjay Dutt, Bill Dosanjh, Amir Khan).

• Film & Entertainment: Kundra has been involved in film production / media ventures. He also starred in and wrote the biographical film UT69, which dramatizes part of his life.

Personal Life

• He was previously married to Kavita Kundra; they divorced.

• On November 22, 2009, he married Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.

• Children: They have a son Viaan (born 2012) and a daughter Samisha (born via surrogacy in 2020). From his first marriage, he has a daughter Deleena.

Controversies & Legal Issues

Raj Kundra’s public life has included significant controversies, legal scrutiny, and regulatory actions:

1. Pornography / Adult Content Case (2021):
   He was arrested by the Mumbai Police for allegedly producing and distributing pornographic content via apps. He was charged under multiple Indian laws (IPC, IT Act, etc.). He was later granted bail.

2. IPL / Cricket-Related Issues:

   • He invested in the Rajasthan Royals (IPL franchise) with Shilpa Shetty. That involvement drew attention during the IPL spot-fixing investigations.

   • In 2015, a Supreme Court–appointed panel imposed a life ban on him from investing in cricket activities.

3. Recent Fraud Allegation (~₹ 60 crore):
   In 2025, a case was filed by Mumbai Police alleging that Raj Kundra (and Shilpa Shetty) defrauded a businessman to the tune of ₹ 60.48 crore via their defunct company Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd. The case is under investigation.

4. Asset Attachments & ED Investigation:
   Some of his properties have been attached in a Bitcoin/cryptocurrency fraud investigation linked to money laundering.