Priya Kapur sues sister-in-law days after court's mediation push in estate row

Just days after the Delhi High Court urged members of Sunjay Kapur's family to “sit together and mediate” their differences over the late industrialist’s Rs 30,000-crore estate, the legal battle has intensified.

The industrialist's widow, Priya Sachdev Kapur, has now filed a Rs 20 crore civil defamation suit before the Delhi High Court against her sister-in-law, Mandhira Kapur Smith, and podcaster Pooja Chaudhary, host of the 'Incontroversial' podcast.

The suit alleges that statements made in podcasts, interviews and on social media platforms are false, defamatory and have caused serious harm to her reputation.

This is not the first legal action initiated by Priya Kapur in the ongoing dispute. She had earlier filed a criminal defamation complaint against Mandhira Kapur Smith over similar allegations.

The defamation proceedings come against the backdrop of a wider family dispute centred on the RK Family Trust and issues related to the distribution and management of the estate.

The plea by Sunjay Kapur’s mother, Rani Kapur, who has sought the dissolution of the RK Family Trust and challenged the validity of the trust deed dated October 26, 2017, has found support from Mandhira Kapur, as well as actor Karisma Kapoor's children, who have backed her challenge to the trust.

The actor was Sunjay Kapur's second wife.

On Tuesday, while hearing aspects of the estate matter, the Delhi High Court stressed the need for restraint and reconciliation, advising the family to resolve differences through mediation rather than prolonged litigation.

During the hearing, the court urged the parties to attempt an amicable resolution, stressing the importance of preserving family relationships.

“Try to resolve the issue amicably. Try to respect the relations Resolve it in a peaceful manner. These are fruits of someone else’s labour and a blessing to you. Let it not turn into a curse,” Justice Pushkarna said.

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(With ANI inputs)