Patiala House Court Issues Notice in Sunjay Kapur Estate Defamation Case
The protracted legal battle surrounding the substantial estate of the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur continues to unfold in the Patiala House Court. The dispute involves his widow, Priya Sachdev Kapur; his sister, Mandhira Kapur Smith; and his children from his previous marriage to actress Karisma Kapoor. The court has now issued a notice on an application filed by Mandhira Kapur Smith, seeking the production of specific documents from Priya Sachdev Kapur.
Legal Proceedings and Arguments
According to ANI reports, Mandhira Kapur Smith submitted her reply to the defamation complaint lodged against her by Priya Sachdev Kapur. Concurrently, she filed an application requesting the court to direct the complainant to produce certain documents. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Siddhant Sihag presided over the preliminary arguments concerning this application. The court has scheduled the next hearing for March 30, 2026, and granted time to the counsel for the proposed accused, Pooja Chaudhary, to file a reply.
Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, representing Priya Sachdev Kapur, contested the application, arguing that it is not maintainable at the current procedural stage. He emphasized that the matter is still at the notice stage, not the charge stage, and therefore, such a request for document production is premature. Singh reserved his right to argue on points of law without filing a formal reply.
Advocate Amit Prasad, counsel for Mandhira Kapur Smith, countered by asserting that the alleged defamatory statements should not be examined in isolation. He further contended that a judgment cited by the complainant's counsel is irrelevant, as it pertains to state-filed criminal cases, whereas this is a private complaint case. Prasad argued that the application for document production becomes pertinent only after the court takes cognizance and at the appropriate stage of proceedings.
Background of the Defamation Complaint
Priya Sachdev Kapur initiated a criminal defamation complaint against Mandhira Kapur Smith and another individual, alleging a deliberate campaign to tarnish her reputation. The complaint cites a series of statements disseminated across podcasts, social media platforms, media interviews, and online content. It claims these remarks contain false assertions, insinuations, and personal attacks presented as facts, despite related issues being sub judice, thereby causing significant reputational harm.
Senior Advocate Maninder Singh submitted that such conduct constitutes criminal defamation under applicable law. The complaint alleges that the circulated material promotes misleading narratives aimed at maligning Priya Kapur through public discourse rather than legal channels.
Connected Legal Developments
The defamation case follows recent developments in associated proceedings, where the court sought a response from Karisma Kapoor regarding a plea by Priya Kapur for certified copies of divorce-related court records involving Sunjay Kapur. In this context, Mandhira Kapur Smith made public statements questioning Priya Kapur's conduct and motives, suggesting that if her brother had intended to share certain information, he would have done so during the marriage. She also emphasized the confidentiality of divorce proceedings, especially when children are involved.
Priya Kapur alleges these statements form part of the defamatory material, prompting her to seek criminal action for reputational damage. On January 21, the Patiala House Court issued notices to the proposed accused, Mandhira Kapur Smith and Pooja Chaudhary, and recorded the statements of Priya Sachdev Kapur and her sister Charu Sachdev.
Disclaimer: The information in this report is based on legal hearings as reported by third-party sources. The details represent allegations made by the involved parties and are not proven facts. The case is ongoing, and a final verdict has not been reached. This publication does not assert the truth of the allegations.
