The inheritance battle over late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s estimated â¹30,000 crore estate reached the courtroom on Wednesday, with his widow Priya Kapur and his two children from his former marriage to actress Karisma Kapoor locked in a high-stakes legal fight.
Karisma’s children, Samaira and Kiaan, have challenged a will dated March 21, which allegedly left Sunjay’s entire personal estate to his wife Priya.
They claim Sunjay never spoke of such a will, nor did Priya or anyone else mention its existence before his sudden death during a polo match in England on June 12. Through their petition, they are seeking a one-fifth share each in their late father’s assets.
Samaira has filed the case through her mother, who holds her power of attorney, while Kiaan, a minor, is represented by Karisma as his legal guardian.
Appearing for Priya, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar dismissed the children’s suit as “not maintainable,” arguing that Priya was Sunjay’s lawfully wedded wife and widow.
He pointed to the acrimonious divorce between Karisma and Sunjay, finalized by the Supreme Court in 2016, questioning, “Where was all this love and affection then? Your husband left you several years ago.”
Priya further claimed that Karisma’s children had already received â¹1,900 crore worth of assets under the RK Family Trust.
“So much crying… They already received â¹1,900 crore from the Trust. I don’t know how much is enough,” she said.
The children, however, allege that Priya forged the will to gain control over the entire estate. They are seeking partition of the assets, a full accounting, and a permanent injunction.
Their suit names Priya, her minor son, her mother-in-law Rani Kapur, and the alleged executor of the will, Shradha Suri Marwah, as defendants.
Representing the children, advocate Mahesh Jethmalani argued that Priya had initially denied the existence of a will.
“First we were told there was no will. Then suddenly, at a meeting of the RK Family Trust on July 30, we were told a will exists,” he said, adding that Priya’s associates withheld the document for over seven weeks after Sunjay’s death.
Jethmalani also pointed out that Priya was appointed managing director of a company controlling substantial trust holdings just a day before Sunjay’s funeral. He argued that the will was “forged” and, notably, not registered.
When questioned, Nayar told the court that registration of wills is not mandatory under Indian law. However, the bench expressed concern: “I don’t understand why you did not give the copy of the will to the children. Where is the will? Please pass it on.”
The court issued a notice and directed Priya to file a list of all movable and immovable assets as of June 12, the date of Sunjay’s death.
Replies are to be submitted within two weeks, rejoinders a week thereafter, with the next hearing scheduled for October 9.