The Supreme Court of India has intervened in the ongoing legal battle over the estate of the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur, directing family members to maintain the status quo regarding specific corporate actions to ensure the integrity of court-mandated mediation.
A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan issued the order on Thursday while hearing an application filed by Sunjay Kapur’s 80-year-old mother, Rani Kapur. The court cautioned that unless an amicable solution is reached through mediation, the parties are headed for a “long drawn battle.”
The legal friction involves Rani Kapur and her daughter-in-law, Priya Kapur. The dispute centers on the ‘RK Family Trust’ and the control of associated corporate entities. Following the sudden death of Sunjay Kapur—who collapsed and died of a cardiac arrest during a polo match in England last June—his mother moved the court to declare the family trust “null and void.”
While primary proceedings regarding the estate are pending before the Delhi High Court, the Supreme Court is currently overseeing an application to restrain interference with the trust’s functioning during mediation.
The immediate catalyst for Thursday’s hearing was a scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of Raghuvanshi Investment Pvt Ltd, set for May 18. Rani Kapur’s counsel raised concerns that the company holds substantial stakes in the parent organization and that the meeting’s agenda could shift the balance of power.
The bench specifically noted concerns regarding two items on the agenda:
- The appointment of two independent directors.
- Modifications to authorized signatories for the company’s bank accounts.
While the respondents, including Priya Kapur and the investment firm, argued that the appointments were necessary for statutory compliance and RBI directives, the bench opted for caution.
The Supreme Court had previously appointed former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud as the mediator on May 7. Emphasizing the need to protect this process, the bench stated:
“We do not propose to say anything further at this point of time. We have already requested the mediator to start with the mediation proceedings. For the present, we request the opponents not to do anything which may directly affect the mediation proceedings.”
Consequently, the court directed that the appointment of independent directors and changes to bank signatories should not be discussed in the May 18 meeting. To accommodate this pause, the bench further directed that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other statutory authorities should not insist on immediate compliance with related directives during this interim period.
The Supreme Court intends to monitor the progress of the mediation sessions led by the former CJI. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on August 6, 2026, by which time the court expects an update on the feasibility of an amicable settlement.
