The family feud surrounding the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur has taken a dramatic turn, with his wife, Priya Sachdev Kapur, filing a criminal defamation complaint against his sister, Mandhira Kapur Smith. The complaint, lodged in Delhi's Patiala House Courts, accuses Mandhira of launching a "sustained and deliberate campaign to damage my reputation" through various public statements.

Priya Kapur's legal team, led by Maninder Singh, argues that Mandhira Kapur Smith's remarks, disseminated via podcasts, social media, media interviews, and online publications, contain "false assertions, insinuations, and personal attacks presented as established facts, despite the issues being sub judice". They contend that this conduct constitutes criminal defamation under applicable law.

The defamation case is the latest development in an ongoing legal battle over Sunjay Kapur's estate. Recently, the court sought a response from Karisma Kapoor, Sunjay Kapur's former wife, regarding Priya Kapur's request for certified copies of divorce-related court records involving the late industrialist. Mandhira Kapur Smith publicly questioned Priya Kapur's "conduct and motives" in light of this request, stating that Sunjay would have shared the information himself if he had intended to, and emphasizing the confidentiality of divorce proceedings, especially when children are involved. Priya Kapur alleges that these statements are part of the "defamatory material" cited in her complaint.

Sunjay Kapur passed away in June of last year at the age of 53 after collapsing during a polo match in the UK. He was previously married to designer Nandita Mahtani and actress Karisma Kapoor before marrying Priya Sachdev. The legal disputes surrounding his estate and the recent defamation case highlight the escalating tensions within the Kapur family.