The Supreme Court of India has appointed former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud to lead mediation efforts in the high-profile legal battle between the mother and wife of the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur. On Thursday, the apex court directed both parties to resolve their dispute over a multi-million dollar family trust behind closed doors, issuing a stern warning against making the private matter a “source of entertainment” for the public.
A bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that all legal counsel involved have agreed to the mediation process. The court has requested a preliminary report from the former CJI before the matter is heard again in August.
The legal conflict pits 80-year-old Rani Kapur, the mother of the late Sunjay Kapur, against his wife, Priya Kapur. At the heart of the dispute is a family trust established in October 2017.
Rani Kapur has filed a lawsuit seeking to have the trust declared “null and void,” alleging that the documents used to constitute it in her name were “forged, fabricated, and fraudulent.” The petition currently before the Supreme Court seeks a status quo on the alienation of all properties held by the trust, effectively freezing the estate’s assets while the legal merits are debated.
The bench emphasized that the sensitive nature of the family feud requires privacy. In a notable directive, the court ordered both Rani and Priya Kapur to refrain from making any public statements or posting about the dispute on social media.
“It is a family dispute. Let it be confined among the family only,” the bench observed. “It should not be a source of entertainment.”
The court had first suggested mediation during a hearing on April 27. Following the “gracious” agreement of the parties on Thursday, the appointment of the former Chief Justice marks a significant shift toward a potential out-of-court settlement.
While the mediation proceeds under DY Chandrachud’s oversight, related proceedings regarding the control of the estate and assets remain pending before the Delhi High Court.
The Supreme Court had previously sought a response from Priya Kapur and other stakeholders following Rani Kapur’s allegations. The apex court will now await the mediator’s initial findings before determining the next course of action in the August session.
