The high-stakes battle over the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s estate has taken a sharp turn into personal litigation. Priya Sachdev Kapur, the widow of the late Sona Comstar chairman, has filed a ₹20 crore civil defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against her sister-in-law, Mandhira Kapur Smith.
The suit, filed on February 12, 2026, alleges a “systematic and organized” campaign to tarnish Priya’s reputation following her husband’s sudden death in London in June 2025.
The “InControversial” Podcast Row
The legal action centers on remarks made by Mandhira Smith during an appearance on the podcast InControversial with Pooja Chaudhri.
- The Allegations: Priya claims the podcast and subsequent social media posts falsely accused her of dishonesty, moral impropriety, concealment of assets, and the illegitimate takeover of corporate control.
- The “Outsider” Narrative: According to the plea, Mandhira portrayed Priya as an “outsider” with no legitimate right to represent the Kapur family legacy or business affairs.
- Podcast Host Implicated: The suit also names podcaster Pooja Chaudhri as a defendant, seeking a permanent injunction to restrain the duo from circulating further “defamatory” content and a mandatory order to remove existing videos from YouTube, Instagram, and X.
The Background: A ₹30,000-Crore Inheritance Battle
This defamation case is a secondary front in a massive legal war over the RK Family Trust, valued at approximately ₹30,000 crore.
| Party | Stance & Recent Actions |
| Priya Kapur | Claims a 2025 will leaves the entire estate to her; recently filed perjury charges against her mother-in-law, Rani Kapur. |
| Rani Kapur | Sunjay’s mother; seeks to dissolve the Trust, alleging her signatures were forged while she was unwell. |
| Karisma Kapoor’s Kids | Samaira and Kiaan (Sunjay’s children from his second marriage) have joined the suit, alleging Priya forged the will to exclude them. |
| Mandhira Smith | Sunjay’s sister; openly backs Karisma’s children and her mother, raising questions about the “bee sting” cause of Sunjay’s death. |
Court’s “Blessing vs. Curse” Warning
Earlier this week, Justice Mini Pushkarna urged the family to move toward mediation, observing that the wealth inherited was the “fruit of someone else’s labor” and should be treated as a blessing.
“Let it not turn into a curse. Try to respect the relations and resolve it in a peaceful manner.”
The court has scheduled the next hearing for March 23, 2026, allowing time for responses to Priya’s fresh applications.