Supreme Court Calls for Mediation in Sunjay Kapur Family Trust Dispute

Legal Battle Over Family Trust

New Delhi: On Monday, the Supreme Court requested a response from Priya Kapur, the widow of the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur, regarding a lawsuit filed by his mother, Rani Kapur. The lawsuit seeks to declare the family Trust as 'null and void' and encourages the parties involved to consider mediation.

A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Vijay Bishnoi issued a notice to Priya Kapur and others in response to the claims made by Rani Kapur, who is 80 years old. She alleges that the Trust, established in her name in October 2017, was created using 'forged, fabricated, and fraudulent' documents.

The ongoing legal dispute over the estate and assets is currently before the Delhi High Court, and the petition presented to the Supreme Court aims to maintain the status quo regarding the Trust's properties.

During the proceedings, the Supreme Court urged the disputing parties to seek mediation, emphasizing the futility of their conflict. 'Why are you all fighting? This is not the age for your client to fight. Go for mediation once and for all. Otherwise, this is a waste. You are 80 years old. This is not the age for your client to fight,' the bench remarked to the lawyer representing Kapur.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for May 7.

In her lawsuit, Rani Kapur is requesting a permanent injunction against the defendants, including her daughter-in-law Priya Kapur and her grandchildren, preventing them from using or acting on the 'RK Family Trust' in any capacity.

She claims to be the sole beneficiary of her late husband Surinder Kapur's estate, who was the founder of several businesses, including the 'Sona Group of Companies'. Rani Kapur alleges that a 'systematic fraud' was perpetrated against her when the assets were transferred to the 'RK Family Trust'.

The lawsuit states that until his passing, Sunjay never informed Rani Kapur that she had been stripped of her rights, assets, and legacy, nor did he provide her with a copy of the alleged RK Family Trust.

'Through a complex web of illegal transactions conducted by the defendants in collusion with the plaintiff's now-deceased son, Sunjay Kapur, all of the plaintiff's assets have been placed into a fraudulent trust titled the RK Family Trust, without her knowledge,' the lawsuit claims.

Sunjay Kapur tragically passed away on June 12 after collapsing during a polo match in England due to a sudden cardiac arrest.

Additionally, a challenge regarding the authenticity of the purported will of their late father is pending in the Delhi High Court, filed by Karisma Kapoor's two children, who accuse Priya Kapur of greed.