The death of industrialist Sunjay Kapur has sparked a high-stakes battle over his Rs 30,000 crore estate — with multiple people contesting the will. The Delhi High Court also issued a directive for his wife Priya Kapur to disclose all asset details on Wednesday following a suit by ex-wife Karisma Kapur. Rani Kapur, the mother of the late industrialist, has also raised questions — insisting that there was “something unholy” about the entire situation.
The petitioners allege foul play — noting that the will was unregistered and only surfaced weeks after the death of Sunjay Kapur in mid-June. They claim that the document (dated March 21) was deliberately withheld for nearly seven weeks before being brought to their attention during a private family meeting at the end of July. During this time Priya Kapur had insisted that there was no will left by the late businessman.
Karisma Kapoor vs Priya Kapur
Samaira Kapur and and Kiaan Raj Kapur — his children from a previous marriage with actor Karisma Kapoor — claim that Priya had forged a will to gain complete control over his assets. A civil suit filed before the Delhi High Court noted that the will was unregistered and had never been disclosed until a “hasty” reading at the Taj Hotel. Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani also pointed to suspicious circumstances — noting that the executor admitted learning of the will only a day before and that its disclosure came from a family employee.
Meanwhile Priya informed the court on Wednesday that the two children had already received Rs 1,900 crore from the family trust. Her counsel also submitted that the will was valid despite being unregistered.
“It’s not registered. Unregistered does not take the nature away. There is a judgment which says an unregistered does not take the validity away. When I set up the will, my lady will be entitled to examine if it is suspicious in nature. All this crying and weeping that is going on, just six days before the suit, the plaintiffs received Rs 1900 crore from the trust. What more do they want?” the counsel asked.
What does Rani Kapur say?
Rani Kapur has also challenged the will — saying there was nothing left to her and calling the entire process “unholy”. Lawyer Vaibhav Gaggar added that Rani had sent at least 15 emails asking for information about the will but failed to receive any response. She has however distanced herself from the latest clash — insisting that this was primarily between Karisma Kapoor and Priya Sachdeva. Gaggar added that the mother of the late industrialist had been named a defendant in the case due to her being a class 1 heir to his assets. He reiterated that Rani Kapur had already made her stance clear and would soon file a response.
“There is something incredibly unholy. Rs 10,000 crore worth of assets should have been mine…Today I have nothing….I have seven grandchildren, I am the person who has to make sure everyone gets it. Everything has gone to Mr. Nayar’s client. Ms. Priya Sachdeva comes in, within three months of her getting married, everything goes. What is this will? I am the settler. Rani Kapur Trust. There needs to be a status quo on the assets.,” Livelaw quoted her as saying.
(With inputs from agencies)