The legal dispute over the alleged will of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur escalated in the Delhi High Court as the minor son from his marriage to Priya Kapur claimed the challenge filed by Karisma Kapoor’s children was entirely based on “speculation and guesswork.”
The court is currently hearing the suit filed by Samaira Kapur and her minor brother (children of Sunjay Kapur and actor Karisma Kapoor), who have contested the authenticity of their father’s purported will, which involves assets reportedly valued at a staggering ₹30,000 crore.
Minor Son’s Counsel Addresses Suspicion Claims
Representing the six-year-old minor, Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal presented arguments before Justice Jyoti Singh, dismantling the plaintiffs’ claims of suspicious circumstances surrounding the will’s surfacing.
- No Delay in Production: Sibal addressed the issue of the will’s delayed presentation. Sunjay Kapur died on June 12 after collapsing during a polo match in England due to a reported sudden cardiac arrest. The executor presented the will at a family meeting on July 30. Sibal argued this was “a matter of just a month and not a delay of years,” thus invalidating the claim of suspicious delay.
- Knowledge of Exclusion: Sibal contended that the plaintiffs’ legal strategy was driven by the knowledge that they were excluded from the inheritance. He said, “Their case is that on July 30, the executor reads it out hurriedly… At that point, they admittedly know three things — date, witnesses, and that they are excluded.”
- Lack of Communication: The counsel pointed out that Karisma Kapoor’s children did not send any formal communication seeking a copy of the will until August 22. In the interim, he noted, Karisma Kapoor herself communicated with Priya Kapur to “get all the paperwork finished,” yet the children refused to sign a confidentiality agreement required to receive a copy of the document.
- Strategic Challenge: Sibal concluded that the children were compelled to challenge the will “come what may” because they knew they were excluded. He submitted that they could have simply filed a suit alleging suspicion over the will even without having a copy, but they proceeded with the challenge regardless of the will’s genuine status.
Family Tradition and Foreign Assets
The arguments by the minor son’s representative aligned with the stand taken by Priya Kapur, who had told the court a day earlier that it was a “healthy tradition” for a husband to leave all his assets to his wife, thereby rejecting the allegation that the will was suspicious.
Sibal also maintained that there was no discord within the family during Sunjay’s lifetime, asserting that everyone “used to meet each other with kindness.” Regarding claims about Sunjay Kapur’s foreign assets, he argued that the issue was not properly raised by the plaintiffs and falls under foreign jurisdiction.
The High Court is also considering an interim injunction plea filed by Karisma Kapoor’s children, seeking to prevent Priya Kapur from alienating the late industrialist’s assets during the dispute. The matter has been listed for further arguments next week.