Rajasthan Royals Controversy: Manoj Badale Accuses Former Co-Owner Raj Kundra Of Blackmail

The ownership saga surrounding the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals has erupted into a full-blown legal dispute, as majority owner Manoj Badale has accused former co-owner Raj Kundra of blackmail. The allegations surfaced during proceedings at the London High Court, where Badale and his company Emerging Media Ventures have filed a lawsuit claiming Kundra breached a confidential 2019 settlement agreement.

The case stems from Kundra’s former 11.7% stake in the franchise, which he was compelled to forfeit in 2015 after being found guilty of betting on IPL matches, a scandal that also led to a two-year suspension for the Royals. Now, more than a decade since Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural IPL in 2008, the franchise is embroiled in a legal drama that threatens to cast a shadow over its legacy.

According to Badale’s legal representative, Adam Speker, Kundra recently initiated contact with Badale, alleging he was “misled and defrauded” regarding the value of his original stake. Speker told the court that Kundra, who is married to Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, threatened to report “serious allegations” to Indian authorities and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unless a financial settlement was reached, an act Speker labelled a “blackmail attempt.”

Kundra, for his part, has rejected the blackmail allegations. His lawyer, William McCormick, told the court that Kundra has come into possession of information about the claimants and their legal team, suggesting that if the claims against him are unfounded, “it will be exposed in due course.” McCormick added that Kundra agreed to maintain an interim injunction issued on May 30, which bars him from making public statements about the dispute, but emphasised this agreement did not constitute an admission of wrongdoing.

Further complicating matters, court documents reveal Kundra also contacted former IPL chairman Lalit Modi earlier this month, claiming Badale would “pay dearly” for allegedly depriving him of the true value of his share in the franchise. Kundra’s communication to Badale also hinted at a willingness to negotiate a settlement, either through the restoration of his equity or compensation based on the current valuation of the team.

Rajasthan Royals, now one of the IPL’s most valuable franchises with an estimated brand value of $12 billion, has undergone multiple changes in ownership structure since its inception. Following its return from suspension in 2018, the team welcomed former captain Shane Warne as a minority shareholder. Badale, who has been the franchise’s anchor investor through Emerging Media Ventures, solidified his majority control in 2021. US-based RedBird Capital Partners currently holds a 15% stake, with media mogul Lachlan Murdoch also listed among the stakeholders.

As the case heads toward a full trial, the legal battle between Badale and Kundra threatens to unearth deeper complexities in IPL franchise ownership and governance. While the interim injunction remains in place, the cricketing world will be watching closely as one of the IPL's foundational teams navigates yet another off-field controversy.

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