Raj Kundra Lands In Fresh Trouble Over Rajasthan Royals Row
Raj Kundra has again come to limelight due to a fresh controversy regarding his past association with the Rajasthan Royals. The newer developments have reignited debates about the issues plaguing the franchise and raised questions relating to ownership and the governance of cricket.

Raj Kundra who was previously the co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals franchise in the Indian Premier League is in serious legal trouble once again. Manoj Badale the present owner of Rajasthan Royals and a London-based venture capitalist operating the firm Emerging Media Ventures has lodged a case against Kundra in London's High Court. The case alleges that Kundra has violated a secret understanding that the two signed in 2019. The legal problem is not only about the aging stake but also involves charges of threats and blackmail which has escalated the case to be more serious and complex.
In recent updates Badale has accused Kundra of attempting to blackmail him by issuing threats to reveal information to the Indian authorities. Kundra is said to have sent a surprise mail to Badale in which he complained that he had been cheated out of the true worth of his 11.7 percent stake in Rajasthan Royals. Kundra lost the stake after he was convicted of IPL match betting in 2015. Due to that scandal the Rajasthan Royals franchise was banned from taking part in the IPL for two years. Now Kundra alleges that the agreement reached after that episode was not even-handed and that he had been deceived.
In that e-mail Kundra informed Badale that he had already made a complaint to Indian authorities and he even warned that he would refer the issue to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. But he indicated that he would be willing to settle the matter provided he was given either the return of his shares or adequate compensation in terms of the current value of the Rajasthan Royals franchise. To date the Rajasthan Royals are now among the wealthiest IPL franchises with a brand worth over twelve billion dollars. So the figure being discussed is extremely high which again makes the case even more significant for both parties.
Lawyer for Badale Adam Speker has said that Kundra's recent move appears like blackmail. Speker told court that Kundra had threatened to file serious charges unless some kind of money settlement was paid. To make matters even more strained Kundra also messaged Lalit Modi the former chairman of IPL who himself is also embroiled in controversies. In the message Kundra is said to have mentioned that cheating him out of the rightful value of his stake would cost him dearly. The sort of statement has provided more credibility to the blackmail charge.
Due to these threatening comments Badale and his company secured a temporary court injunction on May 30 that prevents Kundra from commenting adversely or causing harm to the issue publicly. The injunction is aimed at safeguarding the 2019 agreement that was intended to resolve all issues between the two parties. It is evident that Badale's camp wishes to maintain confidentiality and prevent public injury to the Rajasthan Royals brand.
On the other hand Kundra's attorney William McCormick has asserted that his client is not taking on guilt by consenting to the court order. In his view Kundra is merely consenting to abide by the injunction until the case reaches full trial. McCormick further stated that this does not constitute Kundra's admission of doing something wrong. In fact Kundra feels that the reality about the other party will surface sooner or later during the hearings at court.
Raj Kundra, husband of popular Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, has been a part of many controversies in the past. He is always in the news for the wrong reasons and this new court battle has again put him in the limelight. The case also reminds one of the 2015 IPL match-fixing scandal that critically hurt the image of the league and resulted in severe punishments to all parties involved, including Kundra and the Rajasthan Royals franchise.
Now, the situation is that Kundra wishes to get what he feels is a decent compensation for his portion of the team while Badale wishes to implement the ancient deal and not have any new issues. The case will be progressing in the months to come with both parties getting ready for an in-depth legal war. Since the brand worth of Rajasthan Royals has grown enormously over time this case is no longer about old business transactions but also about big bucks in one of the richest leagues of cricket.
The legal papers reveal that this matter might become even more complex as further information emerges. There are robust legal teams on both sides and both are digging their heels in. Whether Kundra will succeed in establishing his allegations or if Badale's team can successfully defend their interests only time will tell. One thing is sure however the case has once again focused light on old sores and it is again revealing the seedy side of business that goes into professional sport.
This tale featuring words such as Raj Kundra Rajasthan Royals IPL betting scandal blackmail allegations Manoj Badale Emerging Media Ventures and IPL ownership controversy illustrates how involved and high-stakes cricket business can get. The trial in the near future may shed further light on the business dealings of IPL franchises within and how future disputes are resolved by team owners and investors. For the time being cricket enthusiasts and business observers alike will be watching with bated breath what else unfolds in this sensational and high-profile case.