Sanjay Kapur and Karishma Kapoor married in 2003 and divorced in 2016.
Karishma Kapoor-Sanjay Kanpur Property Case News: The Delhi High Court has directed Priya Sachdeva Kapur, the third wife of the late Sunjay Kapur, to submit a comprehensive list of her husband’s movable and immovable assets following a legal dispute filed by the children of Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor. The children, who are seeking a share in their father’s estate, have accused their stepmother of forging Sunjay Kapur’s will to secure control over his assets.
Justice Jyoti Singh issued the order on Wednesday, after Karisma Kapoor’s children, represented by their mother, moved the court alleging that a will, which allegedly leaves the entirety of Kapur’s estate to Priya Sachdeva Kapur, is forged and fabricated. The court has asked Priya Kapur to provide a detailed list of all assets known to her, to be declared as of June 12, 2023, the date of Sunjay Kapur’s death in the United Kingdom. The matter is set to be heard again on October 9 to address the plea for an interim injunction.
The Controversial Will and Alleged Forgery
At the heart of the dispute is a will dated March 21, 2025, which Karisma Kapoor’s children claim was not disclosed to them in a timely manner. The siblings, who have been excluded from their father’s estate, allege that the will was kept hidden for over seven weeks and was only revealed during a family meeting on July 30, 2023. They further accuse Priya Kapur of conspiring with two associates, Dinesh Agarwal and Nitin Sharma, to suppress the will.
The petitioners argue that the will is not legally valid due to its unregistered status and the suspicious circumstances surrounding its discovery. In a plea to the court, they claimed that Priya Kapur’s refusal to share the will and her reluctance to provide them with a copy indicate that the document may have been tampered with.
“The Plaintiffs submit that the purported will allegedly executed by their father is not a legal and valid document and is forged and fabricated, surrounded by suspicious circumstances,” the suit stated. The children have called for the will to be declared invalid and for them to be recognized as Class I legal heirs of Sunjay Kapur, seeking a one-fifth share of his assets.
Delhi High Court.
Court Questions Priya Kapur’s Reluctance
The Court raised questions about Priya Kapur’s hesitance in sharing the will with Karisma Kapoor’s children. Justice Singh asked, “I don’t know why you should not part with the copy of the will to the children. Of course, there can be a non-disclosure agreement. We can constitute a confidentiality club as well. We do this in intellectual property matters routinely.”
The judge’s remarks suggest that the court may be exploring ways to balance confidentiality concerns with the children’s right to transparency regarding their father’s estate. Priya Kapur has, however, defended her actions, claiming that she has been transparent about the will’s existence but requires the children to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before receiving a copy.
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Legal Arguments from Both Sides
Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, representing Karisma Kapoor’s children, emphasized that the will was not disclosed to them in a reasonable manner. He argued that the timing of its revelation was highly suspicious, as the will’s purported executor had only “discovered” it a day before the family meeting. Jethmalani also pointed out that the executor of the will is an employee of the family business, further casting doubt on the authenticity of the document.
“We are asking for details of Kapur’s total assets. The fact that the will was withheld for so long raises serious concerns,” Jethmalani argued.
On the other hand, Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, defending Priya Kapur, contended that the suit was not maintainable and that the unregistered nature of the will did not render it invalid. He disclosed that assets worth approximately ₹1,900 crores had already been transferred to the plaintiff siblings, emphasizing that Karisma Kapoor was “nowhere to be seen” after her divorce from Sunjay Kapur.
“I am a widow, and I am his last wife. There is nothing secret about the will. I will share it, but they will have to share a non-disclosure,” Nayar added.
Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, representing Priya Kapur and her minor son, further argued that digital evidence exists to confirm that the will was executed long before Sunjay Kapur’s death.
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Sunjay Kapur’s Family Divided
The conflict has sparked deep divisions within the Kapur family, with Sunjay Kapur’s mother, Rani Kapur, also raising concerns about the handling of her son’s estate. Senior Advocate Vaibhav Gaggar, representing Rani Kapur, claimed that she has been excluded from the estate and criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the will’s discovery. Gaggar demanded a status quo order on the assets, arguing that her late son’s ₹10,000 crore worth of assets should rightfully belong to her.
“There is something incredibly unholy here,” Gaggar said, noting that his client had sent numerous emails seeking clarity on the will but had received no response.
Delhi High Court issues notice to Priya Sachdeva Kapur
After hearing the arguments, Justice Singh issued a notice and registered the suit, invoking the doctrine of lis pendens, which prohibits parties from transferring or altering the status of the property involved in a lawsuit. The interim injunction application, which seeks to freeze Sunjay Kapur’s assets until the legal dispute is resolved, will be heard again on October 9.
This case highlights the complexities of family disputes over inheritance, especially when large assets are involved. It also raises important questions about the authenticity of wills and the transparency required in their disclosure. As the case continues, the Kapoor family’s bitter legal battle is set to unfold further, with implications for the distribution of Sunjay Kapur’s considerable estate.
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