The high-stakes legal battle over the estate of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur witnessed heated arguments before the Delhi High Court on Tuesday regarding procedural delays and the verification of the disputed Will.
Hearing an application for ‘signature verification’ filed by the plaintiff, Karisma Kapoor (on behalf of her children), the Joint Registrar of the Delhi High Court recorded that while the defendants have completed their pleadings, the plaintiffs have yet to file necessary rejoinders.
The proceedings before the Joint Registrar primarily focused on the application seeking verification of the late Sunjay Kapur’s signature on the contested Will. Counsel for the defendant, Priya Kapur, submitted that they had already filed all replies to the pending applications. However, it was highlighted that Karisma Kapoor’s side had failed to file their responses or rejoinders despite previous deadlines.
Seeking additional time to file the rejoinder, the plaintiff’s counsel faced strong opposition from the defence. Priya Kapur’s legal team argued that the repeated requests for adjournment reinforce the position that the proceedings are being “prolonged through delay tactics” rather than being advanced through substantive legal arguments.
Dispute Over Asset Disclosure
The hearing also addressed a request seeking the disclosure of assets. Priya Kapur’s counsel stated that full and complete details of the estate had already been shared in the court of Justice Jyoti Singh, rendering the current application ‘unnecessary.’
Conversely, Karisma Kapoor’s counsel contended that the disclosure provided was incomplete and sought liberty to respond to the details provided at a later stage.
A brief moment of confusion occurred regarding the stance of Sunjay Kapur’s mother, a party to the suit. Initially, it was submitted that she would not be filing a reply to one of the specific applications. However, following a brief consultation, her lawyers reversed this position, informing the Court that a reply would indeed be filed.
Noting that pleadings remain incomplete due to the pending replies from the plaintiff and other parties, the Joint Registrar listed the matter for further proceedings on January 20, 2026.
Jurisdictional Objections and Previous Proceedings
This development follows a significant hearing before Justice Jyoti Singh on December 9, 2025, where the scope of the reliefs sought by Karisma Kapoor was materially curtailed.
During that hearing, Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for the defence, raised a preliminary objection regarding the jurisdiction of Indian courts over foreign immovable assets. Referring to Section 16 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), Mr. Sibal clarified that Indian courts lack the jurisdiction to adjudicate title or pass orders concerning immovable properties situated outside India.
Conceding to this legal position during arguments, the plaintiff’s side attempted to reframe their prayers. The Court subsequently directed both parties to file written submissions by December 22, with orders reserved on the specific issue of interim relief and jurisdiction.
Focus on Due Execution of Will
Earlier in the November hearings, Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, appearing for Defendant No. 1 Priya Kapur, had advanced arguments regarding the validity of the Will. He vehemently submitted that “drafting or typographical errors are legally immaterial” in disputes concerning testamentary succession.
Mr. Nayar emphasized that the legal enquiry in such cases is strictly confined to two factors:
- The due execution of the Will.
- The authenticity of the testator’s signature.
The defence has maintained that both these elements are amply supported by the affidavits of attesting witnesses and contemporaneous digital records, which allegedly establish that the Will is genuine.
The matter is now set for further consideration in January, where the Court is expected to address the completion of pleadings and the application for signature verification.
