The Supreme Court has intervened in the contentious family trust dispute involving the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur's estate, appointing former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud as a mediator. The dispute primarily involves Rani Kapur, Sunjay Kapur's mother, and Priya Kapur, his widow.
Mediation to Resolve Family Feud
A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan referred the matter to mediation after all involved parties expressed willingness to explore an out-of-court settlement. The court emphasized that the dispute was a private family matter and should not become a source of public entertainment. It also directed the parties to refrain from making public statements or social media posts regarding the case.
The Supreme Court had initially suggested mediation on April 27, noting the sensitive nature of the family conflict. With the consent of all counsels, Justice Chandrachud was appointed to facilitate discussions. The court stated it would await a preliminary report from the mediator before proceeding further with the case, which has been posted for August. Modalities for the mediator's fees will be fixed in consultation with the parties.
The Core of the Dispute: RK Family Trust
The legal battle stems from Rani Kapur's petition to the Supreme Court, seeking to declare the 'RK Family Trust' null and void. The 80-year-old matriarch alleges that the trust, purportedly constituted in her name in October 2017, was created using "forged, fabricated and fraudulent" documents. She has requested a permanent injunction to prevent her daughter-in-law, Priya Kapur, and grandchildren from acting in furtherance of the trust.
Rani Kapur claims she was the sole beneficiary of her late husband Surinder Kapur's entire estate, who was the promoter of the Sona Group of Companies. Her petition asserts that a "systematic fraud" was committed to divest her of her rights and assets when they were transferred to the RK Family Trust. She further stated that Sunjay Kapur, who passed away on June 12 after collapsing during a polo match in England, never informed her that she had been divested of her legacy or provided her with a copy of the purported trust documents.
Separate legal proceedings related to Sunjay Kapur's estate are also ongoing in the Delhi High Court, including a plea by Karisma Kapoor's two children challenging the authenticity of their late father's alleged will.