The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered the freezing of late businessman Sunjay Kapur's Rs 30,000 crore estate, placing the burden on his wife Priya Kapur to dispel all doubts regarding the authenticity of his purported will. Justice Jyoti Singh ruled that the suspicious circumstances raised by the plaintiffs must be fully resolved by Priya Kapur before the document can be accepted as the deceased's last will.
Court Orders Asset Preservation
The court noted that the plaintiffs, including Sunjay Kapur's children from his previous marriage to actor Karisma Kapoor, have established a prima facie case for protecting the assets. The judge stated, "The legitimate suspicious circumstances raised by the plaintiffs will have to be completely removed by defendant number one (Priya Kapur) before the document is accepted as the last will." If the assets are not preserved and Priya ultimately fails to prove the will's validity, Sunjay and Karisma's children Samaira and Kiaan, along with his mother Rani Kapur, would lose their legitimate share of the estate.
Interim Freeze on Assets
The interim order freezes equity shareholdings in three Indian companies held by the deceased and restrains the disposal of his personal effects, including artwork. Priya Kapur has been barred from drawing from her late husband's provident fund or accessing funds in his Indian bank accounts, except for withdrawals to meet Sunjay's obligations related to his divorce from Karisma. The court also prohibited her from operating foreign bank accounts and cryptocurrency assets. However, the order does not apply to Sunjay's immovable foreign assets, as Priya's legal team argued these fall outside the high court's jurisdictional purview.
Background of the Case
Sunjay Kapur died on July 12 last year after collapsing during a polo match in the United Kingdom. He suffered a cardiac arrest following the reported ingestion of a live bee. The dispute over his will has pitted his widow against his children from his first marriage, with the court now stepping in to ensure the estate remains intact until the matter is resolved.
