The heated legal battle over the estate of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur escalated significantly on Monday when his mother, Rani Kapur, submitted explosive claims to the Delhi High Court, alleging a “massive concealment” of assets by her daughter-in-law, Priya Kapur.
The allegations were raised amid the ongoing legal dispute where Priya, Sunjay’s third wife, is accused by the children of Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor (Sunjay’s second wife) of forging their father’s will.
The Discrepancy Between Income and Disclosure
Rani Kapur’s counsel highlighted a stark and suspicious disparity between Sunjay Kapur’s known high income and the assets disclosed by his widow.
Advocate Vaibhav Ghaggar, representing Rani Kapur, argued that Priya Kapur’s disclosure was implausible given Sunjay’s stature as a multi-billionaire:
- Income vs. Cash: Ghaggar pointed out that Sunjay Kapur had a reported salary of ₹60 crore, yet the bank accounts disclosed only showed a balance of ₹1.7 crore. “It is absurd that a man of such stature and high net worth does not have a life insurance policy,” the lawyer stated.
- Missing Assets: Suspicions were also raised over the absence of common investments like mutual funds and rental income. Furthermore, the lawyer noted that while Sunjay possessed valuable assets like approximately 6.5% shares of Sona Comstar (valued at roughly ₹650 crore), the disclosed bank balance was extremely minimal.
- Funds Moved Across Borders: Rani Kapur also alleged that her son’s money had been “moved across borders,” prompting a demand for the financial details of Priya Kapur to be scrutinized by the court.
The Fight for the ₹30,000 Crore Estate
The ongoing inheritance battle is highly publicized due to the considerable wealth involved (estimated at ₹30,000 crore) and the family members vying for a share.
- Karisma Kapoor’s Children: Sunjay’s children from his second marriage, Samaira Kapur and Kiaan Raj Kapur, are seeking a share of their late father’s assets and have alleged that the will naming Priya as the sole beneficiary was forged.
- Mother’s Exclusion: Rani Kapur, who is 80 years old, has challenged the purported will, pointing out that she was completely left out, despite her own late husband (Sunjay’s father) having left his entire assets to her.
- Questioning the Will’s Timing: Rani Kapur previously raised objections in September regarding the hasty transfer of the entire estate to Priya, questioning how “within three months of her getting married, everything goes,” leaving his mother with “no roof over my head.”
During the Monday hearing, Rani Kapur’s lawyer reiterated the injustice of the situation, questioning why the elderly mother found no mention in her son’s will.