A new chapter has opened in the ongoing inheritance battle over late businessman Sunjay Kapur's estimated Rs 30,000 crore estate, with filings in the Delhi High Court suggesting unexpected links between Kapur and his former wife, actor Karisma Kapoor.
According to court documents reviewed by CNN-TV18, WhatsApp conversations and records annexed to the case point to active personal discussions between the two, raising questions about whether their relationship was closer than widely believed.
The fresh evidence indicates that Kapur had been assisting Karisma Kapoor and their children in pursuing Portuguese citizenship. CNN-TV18 has learned that the documents include exchanges where Kapur explained to Karisma that obtaining the overseas passport would require her to relinquish Indian nationality, as India does not allow dual citizenship.
On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court issued notice in the civil suit filed on behalf of Karisma Kapoor's two children, who are contesting Kapur's will and seeking a share of his estate. Justice Jyoti Singh directed summons to the defendants, requiring written statements within two weeks and replications within one week thereafter.
Notices were also issued on interim relief, with replies due in two weeks and rejoinders within one week. The matter is scheduled for October 9. The court further ordered Priya Sachdeva Kapur, Sunjay Kapur's widow, to submit a comprehensive inventory of all movable and immovable assets of the deceased.
The bench observed, "Once I register the suit, the doctrine of lis will apply," underscoring the legal implications of the case. Appearing for the plaintiffs, Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani argued that Priya Kapur had forged the will to gain full control over the assets.
He submitted that the will was unregistered, disclosed in haste, and surfaced under "suspicious circumstances," with the executor reportedly informed only a day earlier and the disclosure coming via a family employee. Counsel for Priya Kapur, Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, countered that the case is not maintainable, pointing out that the children are already beneficiaries under a family trust and had recently received assets worth Rs 1,900 crore.
"It's not as if these people are left on the streets. I am a widow with a six-year-old child. For 15 years, they were nowhere to be seen," Nayar told the court. He confirmed that the will is in their custody, placed it before Justice Singh for inspection, and offered to share it with the plaintiffs under a non-disclosure agreement, CNN-TV18 reported.
Meanwhile, Kapur's mother, Rani Kapur, also raised objections through Senior Advocate Vaibhav Gaggar. "There's something unholy going on. I am 80 years old and concerned about my grandchildren. A trust set up by me has nothing for me? Despite repeated mails, I never received a copy of the will," she told the bench.
The High Court will now take up the matter in three weeks for consideration of an ad-interim injunction, marking yet another twist in the high-stakes family dispute over one of India's largest private estates, according to CNN-TV18.
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