{"id":206196,"date":"2025-10-11T20:14:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T20:14:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/206196\/"},"modified":"2025-10-11T20:14:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T20:14:22","slug":"karisma-kapoors-childrens-lawyer-calls-priya-sachdev-cinderellas-stepmother-amid-rs-30000-crores-sunjay-kapur-estate-legal-battle-bollywood-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/206196\/","title":{"rendered":"Karisma Kapoor\u2019s children\u2019s lawyer calls Priya Sachdev \u201cCinderella\u2019s stepmother\u201d amid Rs 30,000-crores Sunjay Kapur estate legal battle : Bollywood News"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Allegations of forgery and conspiracy clouded the inheritance battle over the Rs 30,000-crore estate of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur, as Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani told the Delhi High Court on Thursday that the purported will produced by Kapur\u2019s widow Priya Sachdev Kapur was a fabricated document, crafted to exclude his two children &#8211;Samaira and Kiaan Kapur, and seize control of his vast fortune.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter wp-image-2044951 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/stat5.bollywoodhungama.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Karisma-Kapoor-kids-Sunjay-Kapur-inheritance-case.jpg\" alt=\"Karisma Kapoor's children's lawyer calls Priya Sachdev &quot;Cinderella\u2019s stepmother&quot; amid Rs 30,000-crores Sunjay Kapur estate legal battle\" width=\"620\" height=\"450\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Karisma Kapoor\u2019s children\u2019s lawyer calls Priya Sachdev \u201cCinderella\u2019s stepmother\u201d amid Rs 30,000-crores Sunjay Kapur estate legal battle<\/p>\n<p>Appearing before Justice Jyoti Singh, Jethmalani representing Samaira and Kiaan Kapur, the children from Sunjay\u2019s earlier marriage to actor Karisma Kapoor, alleged that Sunjay \u201chad no role in his own will.&#8221; The counsel said digital evidence and travel logs proved that the industrialist was on holiday with his son Kiaan between March 15 and 18, 2025, when the document was supposedly modified.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe will was altered on March 17 at 11:54 am, when Sunjay Kapur was not even in the city. His digital footprints are missing, replaced by those of the conspirators, including Priya Kapur,\u201d Jethmalani told the court. \u201cIt is a serious crime under Section 467 of the Indian Penal Code, which prescribes life imprisonment for forgery of a will.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At the centre of the controversy is a will dated March 21, 2025, which allegedly bequeaths Sunjay Kapur\u2019s entire personal estate to his third wife, Priya Sachdev Kapur. The children have challenged its authenticity, calling it the result of \u201ca criminal conspiracy\u201d among Priya and three associates.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2018Cinderella Stepmother\u2019 Allegation<\/p>\n<p>The metaphor quickly became the day\u2019s most-quoted line in the courtroom. Jethmalani alleged that Priya Kapur had behaved like \u201can evil Cinderella mother\u201d to Samaira and Kiaan scheming to sideline them and their grandmother Rani Kapur, while consolidating wealth and power within her own household.<\/p>\n<p>He accused Priya of engineering secrecy around the estate, including insisting that family members sign non-disclosure agreements before discussing assets. \u201cIf the will were genuine, why the need for NDAs? Why the haste?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<p>Jethmalani also questioned the role of Shradha Suri Marwah, the named executor, claiming that \u201cthe person executing the assets was not the executor but Priya herself.\u201d Two witnesses to the will, he said, were later given roles in companies tied to the estate\u2014an \u201cominously convenient\u201d pattern that, he argued, exposed the forgery. Neither witness has filed an affidavit validating the will, adding to the doubts over its provenance.<\/p>\n<p>Justice Singh, after opening the sealed cover that contained the original document and an asset list, observed that the list bore no signature, and directed Priya Kapur to re-file it with an affidavit. The court will continue hearing Jethmalani\u2019s arguments on October 13 before the defence presents its case.<\/p>\n<p>According to court filings, the will leaves Karisma Kapoor\u2019s children with a residual stake of barely 26% in the family trust, while Priya Kapur and her minor son Azarius command control of nearly three-quarters of the assets. \u201cThe tearing hurry was to appropriate everything before the children could act,\u201d Jethmalani told the bench. \u201cThis is no benign stepmother; this is Cinderella\u2019s stepmother.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jethmalani further questioned the conduct of Shradha Suri Marwah, the named executor of the will, asserting that \u201cthe person executing the assets was not the executor but Priya herself.\u201d He told the court that the two witnesses to the will were subsequently rewarded with positions in companies linked to the Kapur estate, an arrangement he described as \u201cominously convenient.\u201d Neither witness, he said, has filed an affidavit confirming the will\u2019s validity, a silence that \u201cmakes the document even more suspicious.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A Will Without Signature<\/p>\n<p>Justice Singh on Thursday opened the sealed cover submitted by Priya Kapur containing the original will and a list of assets. The judge observed that the list bore no signature, directing Priya to resubmit a signed version accompanied by an affidavit. The court will continue hearing Jethmalani\u2019s submissions on October 13 before taking arguments from the defence.<\/p>\n<p>Counsel Rajiv Nayar, representing Priya Sachdev Kapur, categorically denied the allegations, maintaining that the will was \u201cexecuted and attested properly, long before Sunjay Kapur\u2019s death.\u201d He argued that the suit filed by the children was \u201cnot maintainable\u201d and that the document\u2019s authenticity was supported by contemporaneous evidence.<\/p>\n<p>The dispute traces back to June 12, 2025, when Sunjay Kapur, chairman of the diversified Sona Group and a familiar face on India\u2019s polo circuit, collapsed during a match in England and died shortly afterwards. In the weeks following his death, Priya initially claimed that all assets were held in the RK Family Trust and that no will existed. Only in late July did she produce the March 21 document, which the children now describe as \u201cforged and fabricated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jethmalani told the court that the alleged forgery amounted to \u201ca conspiracy by four individuals\u201d aimed at usurping complete control of the estate while leaving Sunjay\u2019s elderly mother Rani Kapur and his two children \u201ceffectively penniless.\u201d \u201cThe mother is the settlor of the trust,\u201d he reminded the bench. \u201cWhat ungrateful son would ever leave his mother without a rupee? This is not Sunjay\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the personal drama, the case has broader implications for Indian corporate families increasingly relying on digitally executed wills and trust structures to manage intergenerational wealth. Questions over metadata, authentication and electronic signatures, all pivotal to this case, could shape future jurisprudence on digital inheritance documents.<\/p>\n<p>For now, the High Court has ordered Priya Kapur to provide a verified list of assets and frozen any move to create third-party rights. The matter will resume next week, but the high-society feud has already gripped both legal and business circles, a cautionary tale of modern wealth, technology and trust fractured by suspicion.<\/p>\n<p>As one lawyer observing the proceedings remarked, \u201cThis is not merely about money. It\u2019s a story of power, betrayal and the perils of digital inheritance where the battle for legacy may outlive the man who built it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Rahul R Shelke, Civil Lawyer, Bombay High Court, expert in succession cases, said, &#8220;The assertion that the will was modified while the testator was away with his son is legally significant. When such allegations are supported by an affidavit from the testator\u2019s close kin and contextualised by evidence of marital discord, they lend considerable weight to claims of undue influence or forgery. Courts will generally adopt a cautious stance, prioritising the protection of the legitimate heirs\u2019 interests until a full forensic examination\u00a0is\u00a0concluded.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Also Read:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/news\/bollywood\/karisma-kapoor-battles-childrens-rights-sunjay-kapurs-rs-30000-crores-estate-dispute\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Karisma Kapoor battles for her children\u2019s rights in Sunjay Kapur\u2019s Rs. 30,000 crores estate dispute<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Tags :  <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/bollywood\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bollywood<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/cinderella\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cinderella<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/death\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Death<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/demise\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Demise<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/estate-dispute\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Estate Dispute<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/karisma-children\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Karisma Children<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/karisma-husband\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Karisma Husband<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/karishma-kapoor\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Karisma Kapoor<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/kiaan-kapur\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kiaan Kapur<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/legal\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Legal<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/news\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">News<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/priya-sachdev-kapur\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Priya Sachdev Kapur<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/property-dispute\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Property Dispute<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/samaira-kapur\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Samaira Kapur<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/sunjay-kapur\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sunjay Kapur<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/third-wife\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Third Wife<\/a>, <a data-pjax=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/tag\/will\/\" rel=\"tag nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Will<\/a><br \/>BOLLYWOOD NEWS &#8211; LIVE UPDATES<\/p>\n<p>Catch us for latest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/bollywood\/\" style=\"color:#000;font-weight: bold;\" alt=\"Bollywood News\" title=\"Bollywood News\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bollywood News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/movies\/\" style=\"color:#000;font-weight: bold;\" alt=\"New Bollywood Movies\" title=\"New Bollywood Movies\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New Bollywood Movies<\/a> update, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/box-office-collections\/\" style=\"color:#000;font-weight: bold;\" alt=\"Box office collection\" title=\"Box office collection\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Box office collection<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/movies\/\" style=\"color:#000;font-weight: bold;\" alt=\"New Movies Release\" title=\"New Movies Release\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New Movies Release <\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/hindi\/\" style=\"color:#000;font-weight: bold;\" alt=\"Bollywood News Hindi\" title=\"Bollywood News Hindi\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bollywood News Hindi<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/\" style=\"color:#000;font-weight: bold;\" alt=\"Entertainment News\" title=\"Entertainment News\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Entertainment News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/news\/\" style=\"color:#000;font-weight: bold;\" alt=\"Bollywood Live News Today\" title=\"Bollywood Live News Today\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bollywood Live News Today<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bollywoodhungama.com\/movie-release-dates\/\" style=\"color:#000;font-weight: bold;\" alt=\"Upcoming Movies 2025\" title=\"Upcoming Movies 2025\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Upcoming Movies 2025<\/a> and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Allegations of forgery and conspiracy clouded the inheritance battle over the Rs 30,000-crore estate of late industrialist Sunjay&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":206197,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[64,63,4057,99,127752,1300,127753,32089,186,127754,127755,32087,127756,23020,44,184,185,37917,127757,127758,32088,127759,1050],"class_list":{"0":"post-206196","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-personal-finance","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-bollywood","11":"tag-business","12":"tag-cinderella","13":"tag-death","14":"tag-demise","15":"tag-estate-dispute","16":"tag-finance","17":"tag-karisma-children","18":"tag-karisma-husband","19":"tag-karisma-kapoor","20":"tag-kiaan-kapur","21":"tag-legal","22":"tag-news","23":"tag-personal-finance","24":"tag-personalfinance","25":"tag-priya-sachdev-kapur","26":"tag-property-dispute","27":"tag-samaira-kapur","28":"tag-sunjay-kapur","29":"tag-third-wife","30":"tag-will"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206196","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=206196"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206196\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/206197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=206196"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=206196"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=206196"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}