Raj Kundra offers his kidney to Premanand Maharaj. But was it for publicity?

Economic Times

7 hours ago

Synopsis
Businessman Raj Kundra drew both praise and criticism after a video from his visit to Vrindavan showed him offering a kidney to spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj, who has been battling kidney failure for over a decade. While some lauded the gesture, others called it a publicity stunt, prompting Kundra to defend himself on social media, urging people to 'judge less, love more' and stressing that his past should not overshadow his present choices.
Raj Kundra Responds to PR Stunt Claims Over Kidney Offer to Premanand Maharaj Businessman Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, recently became the subject of intense online debate after a video from the couple's visit to Vrindavan surfaced. The footage captured Kundra offering one of his kidneys to spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj, who revealed during their interaction that both his kidneys had failed and that he had been living with the condition for more than a decade.The unexpected gesture visibly surprised Shilpa Shetty, whose reaction in the video drew as much attention as the offer itself. Although Maharaj expressed gratitude for the sentiment, he politely declined Kundra's offer.
What some saw as an act of selflessness quickly became the target of skepticism online, with several social media users dismissing it as a 'PR stunt' due to Kundra's past controversies. The businessman addressed the criticism through posts on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), stating that it was 'strange' to see a life-saving gesture mocked as a publicity move.He wrote that if compassion is considered a stunt, then the world could benefit from more of it, and if humanity is viewed as a strategy, it should be widely adopted. Kundra further noted that he does not allow the media or trolls to define him through labels. In another part of his statement, he remarked that his past does not negate his present choices, and that people should 'judge less, love more' as it might help save lives.The controversy comes at a time when Kundra and Shetty are also facing serious legal allegations. As per median reports, businessman Deepak Kothari has accused the couple of defrauding him of Rs 60 crore between 2015 and 2023. He claimed the funds, provided for business expansion, were allegedly used for personal purposes.The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is currently investigating the case. Advocate Prashant Patil, representing Kundra and Shetty, has publicly denied the accusations, calling them baseless and malicious.