Delhi High Court Urges Mediation in Kapur Family Inheritance Battle
The Delhi High Court has taken a firm stance against what it described as "washing dirty linen in court," strongly advising the mother, wife, and family members of the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur to pursue mediation to resolve their deep-seated differences. Justice Mini Pushkarna emphasized that they should not allow God's "blessing of wealth to turn into a curse."
Court's Plea for Peaceful Resolution
After hearing numerous allegations exchanged among the Kapur clan, Justice Pushkarna directly asked if there was "any chance of mediation." The judge remarked, "God has blessed you with good financial wealth. At the end of the day, all parties are in pain, they are grieving and all of you suffered. Lead a good life rather than fight." Sunjay Kapur, aged 53, passed away in London in June last year.
Justice Pushkarna instructed the senior counsel representing Sunjay's mother, his wife, and his sister to convene and work towards a solution that safeguards everyone's interests. "All of you should try to respect relations… The way forward is resolution in a peaceful manner. Efforts need to be from both sides," the judge observed orally during the proceedings.
Core of the Legal Dispute
The High Court is currently handling a lawsuit filed by Sunjay's mother, 80-year-old Rani Kapur, seeking to have a purported family trust declared "null and void." In her legal action against her daughter-in-law Priya and others, Rani alleges that the trust, established in October 2017, was created using "forged, fabricated and fraudulent" documents. She claims she was wrongfully stripped of all her rights, assets, and legacy.
The court also underscored the importance of Priya recognizing that it was Rani's husband, Surinder Kapur, who "founded everything," and that the fruits of his labor should be equitably shared among all family members.
Legal Notices and Additional Claims
The High Court has issued a notice to Priya and other involved parties in response to Rani's plea to halt the disbursal of dividends from a group company to her daughter-in-law and to preserve the estate. Additionally, the court has requested Priya's stance on her claim that Rani's lawsuit should be dismissed.
Rani's suit asserts that she is the sole beneficiary of the entire estate of her late husband, Surinder Kapur, who was the promoter of various businesses, including the Sona Group of Companies. She alleges that a "systematic fraud" was perpetrated against her when the assets were transferred to the "RK Family Trust."
In a related development, a separate plea by the two children of actor Karisma Kapoor, Sunjay's former wife, challenging the authenticity of their late father's purported will is also pending before the High Court.
