The Supreme Court has scheduled an urgent hearing for May 14 to address a escalating legal battle within the family of the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur. The court will consider an application filed by Rani Kapur, the 80-year-old mother of the late businessman, seeking to restrain his wife, Priya Kapur, from interfering with the family’s multi-million dollar estate.
The dispute, which involves the “RK Family Trust” and the “Sona Group of Companies,” drew a sharp observation from a bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan on Tuesday. While listing the matter, the bench remarked that the scale of the conflict suggested they had entered an arena where the “Mahabharata will look very small.”
At the heart of the litigation is the control of the assets left behind by Sunjay Kapur, who passed away on June 12 following a cardiac arrest during a polo match in England. His mother, Rani Kapur, alleges that the RK Family Trust—established in 2017—is the product of “forged, fabricated, and fraudulent” documents.
In her latest application, Rani Kapur expressed concerns that Priya Kapur and others are attempting to seize control of companies and assets linked to the estate while mediation is still ongoing. She is seeking a formal court direction to maintain the status quo and prevent the alienation or transfer of assets during this period.
Rani Kapur contends that she was the intended sole beneficiary of the estate of her late husband, Surinder Kapur, the founder of the Sona Group. She claims a “complex web of illegal transactions” was used to divest her of her legacy without her knowledge.
The Supreme Court had previously attempted to steer the family toward a resolution outside of a full-scale trial. On May 7, the apex court appointed former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud to serve as a mediator.
While all parties originally agreed to the mediation, the court issued a stern warning regarding public conduct. The bench requested that all family members refrain from making public statements or posting about the dispute on social media, emphasizing that the matter is a private family affair that should be resolved swiftly to avoid “long-drawn litigation.”
The battle over the Sona Group fortune is not limited to the mother and daughter-in-law. A separate legal challenge is pending in the Delhi High Court, filed by the two children of actress Karisma Kapoor (Sunjay Kapur’s former wife). The children are challenging the authenticity of their late father’s will, accusing Priya Kapur of “greed” in her handling of the estate.
The Supreme Court is currently awaiting a preliminary report from the mediator, with the next comprehensive status update scheduled for August 6. However, the immediate focus remains on the May 14 hearing, which will determine if temporary restrictions will be placed on the management of the RK Family Trust to protect the assets during the cooling-off period.
