The inheritance battle surrounding the estate of the late businessman Sunjay Kapur, former husband of Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, has taken a dramatic turn, with his children, Samaira and Kiaan, alleging that "banks have been wiped off". This claim was made during a recent Delhi High Court hearing concerning a plea by Sunjay Kapur's widow and third wife, Priya Sachdev, who sought to disclose details of his estate in a sealed cover.
Sunjay Kapur, who was the chairman of auto manufacturer Sona Comstar, passed away in London in June of this year due to a reported heart attack. His death has triggered a bitter dispute over his estate, estimated to be worth ₹30,000 crore (approximately $3.6 billion USD). At the center of the legal battle is a disputed will, dated March 21, which purportedly leaves Sunjay's entire personal estate to Priya Sachdev Kapur. Samaira and Kiaan have contested the will, calling it "forged, fabricated, and surrounded by suspicious circumstances". They claim that their father never disclosed the existence of such a will during his lifetime, and neither Priya nor any other family member mentioned it until after his death.
The children, represented by Karisma Kapoor, have approached the Delhi High Court seeking their rightful share of their father's assets. They claim that their father had "repeatedly assured" them of their share, which was absent in his final will. They have accused Priya Sachdev Kapur of altering the will. The siblings have sought one-fifth of the property to be given to each of them, as they are the legal heirs of Sunjay Kapur.
Priya Sachdev, on the other hand, has sought to keep the details of Sunjay Kapur's assets confidential, citing security concerns and the sensitivity of financial details. She filed a plea in court seeking to disclose details of her late husband's estate in a sealed cover, or alternatively, for the constitution of a Confidentiality Club. Her counsel argued, "There are bank details, other financial details. Why should the public have someone's bank account number?". She also expressed frustration over media leaks and press conferences outside the court premises.
However, the Delhi High Court has questioned Priya Sachdev's wish to disclose the assets confidentially. Justice Jyoti Singh stated that Sunjay's children have the right to question the will presented by her, and as a result, a sealed cover filing may be 'problematic'. The court pointed out that unless all parties had access to asset details, they couldn't properly respond. "Allowing the application may be problematic for the simple reason that, as the alleged beneficiary of the estate, they (Karisma's children, Samaira Kapur and Kiaan Raj Kapur) have a right to question the assets disclosed. So, tomorrow if they have to verify and go about asking what has happened, if they are bound by this confidentiality club, how will they ever defend their case?" the judge asked.
Adding another layer of complexity to the case, Samaira and Kiaan's counsel alleged that "banks have been wiped off, there is nothing left in the bank account". While the specific bank accounts being referred to were not immediately clear, reports suggest they relate to the bank account details of the purported will.
Priya Sachdev's legal team has claimed that Karisma Kapoor and her children have already received assets worth INR 1900 crore (approximately $228 million USD). However, sources indicate that the control of these assets remains with Priya in the RK family trust, and the children of Karisma Kapoor have no direct access to them.
The Delhi High Court has directed Priya to submit a detailed list of all movable and immovable assets belonging to Sunjay Kapur. The next hearing is scheduled for October 9. The court has also directed Priya to submit the will.
