The legal battle over the massive estate of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur has taken a dramatic new turn. His mother, Rani Kapur, has now aligned with his ex-wife, actor Karisma Kapoor, to legally challenge the authenticity of his will and the actions of his widow, Priya Kapur. The dispute centers on control of assets estimated to be worth a staggering Rs 30,000 crore.
Mother Alleges Exclusion and Concealment
In a significant development before Justice Jyoti Singh of the Delhi High Court on Monday, Rani Kapur presented a petition raising serious questions. Her counsel, Vaibhav Gaggar, argued that she was never informed about the existence of her son's will. He pointed out the document's peculiar silence regarding Rani, despite Sunjay Kapur having publicly acknowledged that he owed his success to her.
"He (Sunjay) would have at least mentioned in the will that he did not want to give anything to his mother," Gaggar stated. "There is not even a whisper about the mother in the will." The petition further alleges that Priya Kapur, instead of grieving her husband's tragic death, moved swiftly to take control of his assets. Sunjay Kapur died on June 12 after accidentally swallowing a bee during a polo match in the UK.
Will Under Scrutiny Amidst Marital Discord
The legal challenge casts doubt on the will that names Priya Kapur as the sole beneficiary of Sunjay's personal estate. Rani Kapur's petition reveals that the couple's marriage had been rocky since May 2023, marked by constant fights. Given this context, the lawyer argued it was highly improbable that Sunjay would exclude all other family members.
"It is highly unlikely that Sunjay would make Priya the sole beneficiary of his personal estate," the counsel said, emphasizing the deceased's "deep bond with and equal affection for all his children, his mother, and other members of the Kapur family." Furthermore, Priya faces accusations of omitting significant assets from the list submitted to the court. These allegedly concealed assets include valuable paintings, bank balances, mutual funds, life insurance policies, rental income, and watches.
Growing Legal Front and Next Hearing
This new petition strengthens the existing legal front against Priya Kapur. Sunjay Kapur's children from his previous marriage to Karisma Kapoor have already filed for an interim injunction. They seek to prevent Priya from alienating them from their father's assets and have also questioned the will's authenticity.
With Rani Kapur now formally joining the fray, the family feud over one of India's largest industrial fortunes has reached a new level of complexity. The Delhi High Court has scheduled the next hearing in this high-stakes case for December 3. The outcome will determine the fate of the Rs 30,000 crore empire and set a precedent for complex family inheritance disputes.
