As Delhi HC allows Priya Kapur to submit Sunjay Kapur’s asset details, here’s what Karisma Kapoor’s children agreed to

Priya Sachdev Kapur

In a major development in the Sunjay Kapur inheritance case, the Delhi High Court on Friday permitted his widow Priya Kapur Sachdev to submit the list of assets in a sealed cover.

While the court agreed the submission of late industrialist's assets in a sealed cover, Justice Jyoti Singh said that there will be no order regarding the confidentiality club as Karisma's children as well as Sunjay's mother Rani Kapur agreed to not disclose contents of the list of assets to the media.

Legal experts say this is a significant moment. Talking to Moneycontrol, Akshat Khetan, Founder of AU Corporate Advisory & Legal Services, observed: “The Court has struck the right balance, sensitive details need not enter the public domain, but heirs cannot be kept in the dark. By allowing sealed cover filings while rejecting Priya Kapur’s NDA demand, the Delhi High Court reaffirmed that heirs have the right to know what constitutes their father’s estate without involving the media unnecessarily.”

Apart from this the High Court also instructed Priya to provide a copy of late Sunjay Kapur’s will to his mother, Rani Kapur, while directing that the original will be kept under the custody of the Registrar General of the High Court to maintain confidentiality and secure handling.

Appearing for Karisma's children - Kian and Samaira Kapur - senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani said, "I'm highly suspicious of authenticity of this Will. I need Sunlight in this case...between 22-26 August a flurry of activity took place…assets were appropriated by the defendant to herself (Priya Kapur)...as far as shares were concerned they were appropriated by her."

As per a report by Live Law, Jethmalani once again raised concerns regarding bank accounts. "Few bank accounts which are in the Will have been emptied. This is conduct of person who wants confidentiality. A six percent shareholding has been appropriated to the defendant. According to this patently bogus Will I have been deprived of everything. For me there is no confidentiality."

Questioning the need for an NDA, Sujit Lahoti, Managing Partner at Sujit Lahoti & Associates, told Moneycontrol: “Inheritance disputes cannot be run like boardroom negotiations. Delhi High Court made it plain that heirs must be able to question every disclosure. NDAs in succession cases would be legally unsound and practically unworkable.”

On the other hand, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar appearing for Priya Sachdev Kapur said, "We are not supposed to have debate on assets in public domain. There is a trial by the press, everyday. I'm inviting a gag order on myself. We are concerned with the case. We are not interested in what is going on outside."