Kapur Heir's Education Fees Become Latest Flashpoint in Multi-Crore Estate Battle
The Delhi High Court became the arena for a fresh dispute in the ongoing legal war over late industrialist Sunjay Kapur's colossal ₹30,000 crore estate. The focus shifted to the educational needs of his children with former wife Karisma Kapoor, as their representative informed the court that their daughter's university fees remain unpaid.
A Plea for Educational Expenses
During a hearing before Justice Jyoti Singh on Friday, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, representing Karisma Kapoor's children, raised an urgent matter. He stated that Samaira Kapur, the 20-year-old daughter studying in the United States, has not had her university fees paid for two months. Jethmalani emphasized that a matrimonial decree obligated the late Sunjay Kapur to cover all educational and other expenses for his children.
"The children's estate is with defendant no.1 (Priya Kapur). So, it is up to her. Two months' fees of the daughter who is studying in the US has not been paid," Jethmalani argued, as reported by PTI.
Allegations and Counter-Allegations in Court
The claim was met with strong opposition from the other side. Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, representing Priya Kapur, Sunjay's third wife, dismissed the fee claim as completely fabricated and baseless. He countered that Priya Kapur has consistently taken care of the children's needs and asserted that the fees in question had, in fact, already been settled.
Nayar further alleged that the sole purpose of bringing this issue before the court was to garner media attention and sway public opinion, rather than address a genuine financial oversight.
The Core of the ₹30,000 Crore Legal Conflict
This fee dispute arises from a much larger legal challenge. The court was hearing arguments on an interim injunction application filed by Samaira Kapur and her 14-year-old brother, Kiaan Kapur. The siblings seek to prevent their stepmother, Priya Sachdev Kapur, from selling or transferring any of their late father's vast assets.
At the heart of the case is a challenge to the authenticity of Sunjay Kapur's purported will. The children have accused Priya Kapur of altering the will, which they claim overlooks their father's repeated assurances that they would receive a share of his fortune. In previous hearings, they have labeled Priya as a "greedy" "Cinderella stepmother."
In a significant development, the court has directed Priya Kapur to submit a comprehensive list of Sunjay Kapur's assets. Meanwhile, Priya Kapur's side has informed the court that the actor's children have already received a substantial ₹1,900 crore from the family trust.
The late Sunjay Kapur was the founder and chairman of Sona Comstar, a leading global auto parts manufacturer. His death in June was the result of an accident during a polo match in London, which subsequently triggered a heart attack. The court has listed the matter for further arguments next week, ensuring this high-stakes family drama is far from over.
