Former Chief Justice Appointed Mediator in Kapoor Family Dispute

Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, the former Chief Justice of India, is back in the spotlight as he steps in to mediate a high-profile family dispute involving the Kapoor family. The Supreme Court has appointed him to resolve issues related to the family trust. This decision comes in light of a legal battle that arose following the death of businessman Sanjay Kapoor, who was formerly married to actress Karisma Kapoor, leaving behind an estate valued at approximately ₹30,000 crores. The core of the dispute lies between Sanjay Kapoor's mother, Rani Kapoor, and his wife, Priya Kapoor. During the proceedings, both parties agreed to mediation, prompting the court to officially refer the case for this purpose. The court advised family members to engage in open discussions to resolve the matter swiftly. Justice Pardiwala emphasized that this is a private family issue that should remain within the family and not become a source of public entertainment. This remark was made after senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, representing Priya Kapoor, requested that Rani Kapoor refrain from making public statements regarding the family dispute. The court instructed both sides to avoid media comments and social media posts about the case. The Supreme Court noted that a resolution through dialogue would be beneficial for all involved, while a failure to resolve the dispute could lead to prolonged litigation.

Sanjay Kapoor passed away on June 12, 2025, during a polo match in England, reportedly due to cardiac arrest. His death triggered the ongoing family dispute concerning the R.K. Family Trust. Rani Kapoor alleges that the trust was established illegally and without proper registration, claiming that her entire property and family legacy were transferred into the trust without her consent. She has filed a civil suit in the Delhi High Court, asserting that her husband, Surinder Kapoor, created a will on February 6, 2013, which stipulated that she would inherit all property after his death in June 2015. Surinder Kapoor was the promoter of the Sona Group of Companies. Rani Kapoor contends that the Bombay High Court validated this will in January 2016, with no objections raised by their three children at that time. However, in the following years, her assets were allegedly transferred to the R.K. Family Trust through various illegal transactions, all without her approval. She also claims that Priya Kapoor sought to gain control over the Sona Group companies immediately after Sanjay Kapoor's death.

Recently, Rani Kapoor filed a civil suit in the Delhi High Court, alleging that the trust was established through fraud and deceit. Other family members involved in the dispute have agreed to participate in mediation regarding the trust. This includes Karisma Kapoor's children, Samaira and Kiaan, who stated that their fraud allegations would be handled separately from the trust issues. Priya Kapoor urged the court to prevent Rani Kapoor from publicly discussing their family disputes. The court encouraged all parties to engage in mediation with an open mind and refrain from making public statements or social media posts about the matter. The bench, comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Ujjwal Bhuyan, reiterated that this is a family dispute that should remain private and not be turned into entertainment. The bench suggested mediation on April 27, considering the nature of the family conflict.

The bench noted that all lawyers representing the parties expressed their willingness to mediate. Consequently, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud has been appointed as the mediator. The court will await his initial report before proceeding further with the case, which is scheduled for the next hearing in August. The Supreme Court had previously sought responses from Priya Kapoor and others regarding a petition filed by Rani Kapoor, which requested the invalidation of the family trust. The bench issued notices to Priya Kapoor and others concerning the petition filed by the 80-year-old Rani Kapoor, alleging that the trust established in October 2017 was based on fraudulent documents. Legal proceedings concerning property control are ongoing in the Delhi High Court, while the Supreme Court has requested a status quo on the transfer of all trust properties. Reports indicate that the suggestions made by the Supreme Court have been accepted.

In this high-profile legal battle, several prominent lawyers are representing different parties. Senior advocates Shyam Diwan and Vaibhav Ggar are representing Rani Kapoor, while Mukul Rohatgi is representing Priya Kapoor. Additionally, Kapil Sibal, Mahesh Jethmalani, and other senior lawyers are present for various parties in court. It remains to be seen what resolution will emerge following Justice D.Y. Chandrachud's mediation.