The legal battle surrounding the estate of the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur has taken a dramatic turn, with allegations of a "Cinderella stepmother" leveled against his widow, Priya Sachdev Kapur. The dispute, which involves Kapur's children from his previous marriage to actress Karisma Kapoor, centers on his estimated Rs 30,000 crore (approximately $3.6 billion USD) fortune.
Sunjay Kapur, the chairman of Sona Comstar, died on June 12, 2025, after collapsing during a polo match in England. His death has triggered a bitter feud between his wife, Priya Sachdev Kapur, his children, Samaira and Kiaan, and his mother, Rani Kapur.
At the heart of the legal battle is a will that reportedly leaves the entire estate to Priya. Karisma Kapoor's children are challenging the will, alleging that the documents were forged as part of a conspiracy. Their lawyer, Mahesh Jethmalani, has argued that there is enough material proof to file a criminal complaint. He pointed out several "loopholes and infirmities" in the will, suggesting that it lacked proper legal preparation. Jethmalani also claimed that the executor of the will was not informed that she was the executor and that there were no affidavits in court by witnesses who attested to the will.
Jethmalani has accused Priya Sachdev Kapur of acting as a "Cinderella stepmother," alleging that she is manipulating the situation to restrict the rightful share of Sunjay Kapur's children while favoring her own child. He claimed that Priya has already received 60% of the assets, around 12% to her own son, and 75% of the trust. Jethmalani questioned Priya's "glaring hurry" in writing letters about Benami forms, which are used to decide beneficiaries of companies.
Adding another layer to the dispute, Sunjay Kapur's sister, Mandhira Kapur Smith, has accused Priya Sachdev of interfering in Sunjay's marriage to Karisma Kapoor. Mandhira claimed that Priya would message Sunjay frequently while he was still married to Karisma. She stated that the Kapur family was opposed to Sunjay and Priya's relationship.
The Delhi High Court is currently hearing the case. The court has allowed Priya Sachdev Kapur to submit a detailed list of assets in a sealed cover, with copies shared with all parties. The court has also directed all parties to keep the details confidential and not leak them to the press. The next hearing is scheduled for October 13 and October 16, 2025.
Legal experts believe this case could set important precedents for inheritance disputes, particularly involving electronic documents and questions of authenticity. The case raises critical questions about estate management, the responsibilities of executors, and the safeguards needed to prevent forgery in high-value inheritance cases.
