Businessman Raj Kundra, husband of actor Shilpa Shetty, has responded to public criticism after a video of him offering to donate his kidney to spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj went viral. The video, which surfaced on Friday, was met with accusations that the gesture was a “PR stunt,” prompting Kundra to take to social media to address his critics.
The Viral Video and Raj Kundra’s Emotional Offer
During a visit to an ashram in Vrindavan, the couple was seen listening to Premanand Maharaj, who revealed that both of his kidneys had failed and that he had been living with the condition for a decade. In a heartfelt moment, Raj Kundra offered to donate one of his kidneys to the Maharaj, a gesture that left Shilpa Shetty visibly surprised. The spiritual leader, while appreciating the gesture, politely turned down the offer, saying he was “completely healthy by God’s grace.”
However, the video’s wide circulation led to a wave of online commentary, with many dismissing Kundra’s offer as a calculated move to improve his public image.
“My Past Does Not Cancel My Present Choices”
Responding to the backlash, Raj Kundra posted a note on both Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). He philosophically challenged his critics, writing, “Strange world we live in when someone chooses to offer a part of themselves to save another’s life, it’s mocked as a PR stunt. If compassion is a stunt, may the world see more of it.”
He directly addressed the cynicism surrounding his past controversies, adding, “My past does not cancel my present choices, and my present intentions are not for you to measure with your cynicism. Judge less, love more you might just save a life too.”
Context: The Ongoing Fraud Allegations
Kundra’s social media clarification comes amid an ongoing investigation by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against him and his wife, Shilpa Shetty. The case was filed based on a complaint by businessman Deepak Kothari, who has accused the couple of cheating him out of ₹60 crore between 2015 and 2023. Kothari alleges that the money, which was meant to expand their now-defunct company, Best Deal TV, was used for personal expenses.
In response to the allegations, the couple’s lawyer, Advocate Prashant Patil, has called the claims “baseless” and “malicious,” stating that the matter is “purely civil in nature” and has already been adjudicated by the NCLT Mumbai.