The Supreme Court on Monday urged mediation in the ongoing dispute over the estate of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur, telling his 80-year-old mother Rani Kapur that prolonged litigation at her age would serve little purpose.

Hearing her plea, a bench led by Justice J B Pardiwala observed, “This litigation has started at 80…this is not the age to fight,” and encouraged all parties to resolve the matter amicably instead of engaging in a prolonged legal battle.

The case pertains to a bitter inheritance dispute within the Sona Group family, with Rani Kapur challenging the creation and functioning of a family trust that she claims has stripped her of her assets.

She has moved the apex court against a Delhi High Court order that refused to grant her interim protection and declined to preserve the estate pending adjudication.

Rani Kapur has alleged that she has been divested of her entire legacy – including her estate, residence and other movable and immovable assets – and sought urgent safeguards against their possible diversion.

COURT FLAGS RISK OF PROLONGED LITIGATION

The Supreme Court noted that the dispute, involving significant assets and multiple stakeholders, could turn into a long-drawn legal battle.

“It would be long-drawn litigation. The plaintiff is 80 years of age. It will be in the interest of parties if they go for mediation and decide the issue peacefully,” the bench observed.

While the court said it would hear the matter on merits, it made clear that it would first attempt to push the parties towards a negotiated settlement. “We shall hear the matter on merits; however, we shall encourage mediation,” the bench added.

ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD, ASSET TRANSFER

In her suit, Rani Kapur has alleged that the family trust was created fraudulently and used to transfer control of key Sona Group assets without her informed consent.

She claimed that after suffering a stroke in 2017, she was made to sign documents – including blank papers – under the pretext of administrative requirements. According to her, her late son Sunjay Kapur and his wife Priya Kapur took advantage of her medical condition to shift ownership of assets into the trust.

The dispute escalated after Sunjay Kapur’s death in June last year, with Rani Kapur alleging that Priya Kapur subsequently assumed control over key group entities, leaving her with no share in the estate.

WIDER FAMILY DISPUTE OVER RS 30,000-CRORE ESTATE

The case is part of a broader inheritance battle between Priya Kapur, Sunjay Kapur’s third wife, and the children of actor Karisma Kapoor over his estimated Rs 30,000-crore estate. Sunjay Kapur, former chairman of Sona Comstar, died in June 2025 at the age of 53 after suffering a cardiac arrest during a polo match in England.

His children with Karisma Kapoor – Samaira and Kiaan – have contested a will that reportedly leaves the bulk of his personal assets to Priya and her children, alleging that they and other close relatives were excluded and that the document may be forged.

MULTIPLE PARTIES, PARALLEL PROCEEDINGS

The matter involves competing claims not only from Rani Kapur but also from other family members, including grandchildren, with parallel proceedings already pending before the Delhi High Court.

Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Rani Kapur, argued that courts typically grant protective orders in disputes involving large estates at the initial stage to prevent asset diversion.

On the other side, counsel representing other family members contested her claims, saying they too had been excluded from the estate.

The Supreme Court, however, stressed that a negotiated resolution would be more effective than extended litigation, given the complexity of the dispute and the age of the petitioner. The matter is scheduled to be taken up again next week.

– Ends

Published By:

Karishma Saurabh Kalita

Published On:

Apr 27, 2026 13:10 IST