Sunjay Kapur estate: Wife Priya Kapur contests mother-in-law Rani's trust challenge

The legal dispute over late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s estate intensified on Wednesday after the Delhi High Court issued notice on fresh applications filed by his wife, Priya Kapur. She has sought dismissal of a suit filed by her mother in law, Rani Kapur, who has challenged the validity of a family trust.

Rani Kapur had approached the High Court seeking to declare a trust named after her as void. In her plea, she alleged that the trust was created fraudulently and used to transfer her assets without consent. She questioned the manner in which the trust deed was executed and claimed she was unfairly excluded.

According to updates shared by news agency ANI, Justice Mini Pushkarna has now granted Rani Kapur four weeks to file her response to Priya’s applications. Priya Kapur has been allowed to submit a rejoinder within two weeks thereafter. The Court has also issued notice to Rani Kapur on a separate plea filed by Priya, alleging perjury.

Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for Priya Kapur, argued that the allegations in Rani Kapur’s suit are “utterly false”. The matter is now scheduled for further proceedings after responses are filed.

During the previous hearing, the High Court had advised the family to consider mediation. The bench observed that the parties, including members of the extended family such as Karisma Kapoor’s children, should attempt to resolve their differences amicably.

“It’s a very sorry state of affairs. D No. 1 (Priya Kapur) should honour the plaintiff (Rani Kapur). All the parties are in pain, and they are grieving in one of the other forms. All of you have suffered losses, and you are suffering even now. God has given you financial wealth, and you all should live a life in a good manner,” the bench remarked.

In her plea, Rani Kapur stated that photocopies of the trust deed revealed that the assets were intended solely for Sunjay Kapur during his lifetime. After his death, 60 percent of the trust corpus was reportedly allocated to Priya Kapur, with the remainder meant for his children, including Samaira and Kiaan from his marriage to Karisma Kapoor, and Azarius with Priya.

Sunjay Kapur, chairman of Sona Comstar, passed away last year in London following a cardiac arrest while playing polo.