Sit together and mediate: High Court to Sunjay Kapur's family over estate dispute

Urging restraint and reconciliation, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked Sunjay Kapur's family to “sit together and mediate” their differences in the ongoing legal battle over the late industrialist’s Rs 30,000-crore estate.

A bench led by Justice Mini Pushkarna was hearing multiple applications filed in a suit 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.

The main petition seeks restoration of assets allegedly transferred to the trust.

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.

The bench also noted that Rani Kapur is a senior citizen and advised all parties to treat her with due respect.

Drawing from judicial experience, the court remarked that family disputes often involve “half-truths and half-lies” and encouraged the stakeholders to sit together and work towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Appearing for Rani Kapur, senior advocate Vaibhav Gaggar sought preservation of the estate, expressing apprehension that the assets could be siphoned off during the pendency of the proceedings.

He alleged that Sunjay Kapur's widow Priya was acting “in haste and in a fraudulent manner” in dealing with the estate.

Rani Kapur’s plea has found support from her daughter Mandira 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 the other hand, senior advocate Akhil Sibal, representing Priya Kapur, defended Sunjay Kapur’s stewardship of the family business.

He told the court that when the late businessman took over the company, it was incurring losses, and that through his leadership it was turned around, culminating in a successful IPO in 2021.

The High Court has, for now, issued notice on applications filed by Priya Kapur seeking dismissal of the suit.

The court directed the parties to file their responses within four weeks, with rejoinders to follow within two weeks thereafter.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 23.

- Ends