Amid an ongoing court-monitored mediation process in the inheritance dispute involving late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s estate, his 80-year-old mother, Ms. Rani Kapur, has moved the Supreme Court, accusing her daughter-in-law, Ms. Priya Kapur, of attempting a “forced takeover” of the disputed family assets.

In her fresh plea before the apex court, the octogenarian has alleged that Ms. Priya Kapur and others were continuing efforts to assume control over key companies and assets linked to the estate despite the Supreme Court’s May 7 order appointing former Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud as mediator to facilitate a negotiated settlement.

The application was mentioned before a Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan, which agreed to hear the matter on May 14.

“Looks like we have entered into an arena where the Mahabharata will look very small. We will look into it [application],” Justice Pardiwala remarked during the hearing, as senior counsels representing the rival factions referred to fresh allegations concerning the functioning of the family trust and a proposed meeting of the company’s board.

Senior advocates Navin Pahwa and Vaibhav Gaggar, appearing for Ms. Rani Kapur, submitted that Raghuvanshi Investment Private Limited (RIPL), which holds a controlling stake in the disputed family estate, had issued a notice convening a meeting of its Board of Directors on May 18.

They contended that the meeting had been convened at the behest of Ms. Priya Kapur under the guise of complying with regulatory requirements applicable to Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), while the real objective was to appoint new independent directors, authorise fresh signatories for RIPL’s bank accounts, and secure control over the company’s investment decisions.

Senior advocate Gopal Jain, appearing for RIPL, opposed the allegations and submitted that the proposed meeting was necessitated by regulatory requirements applicable to NBFCs and was in compliance with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines.

In her application, Ms. Rani Kapur contended that the May 18 board meeting had been convened to bypass the mediation process initiated by the Supreme Court.

“It is submitted that this notice has been issued at the behest of the Respondent No. 1 [Priya], along with her aides, being the Respondent Nos. 3 [director at RIPL] and 4 [RIPL’s company secretary], who have planned to bypass this Hon’ble Court’s process and make the upcoming court-monitored mediation infructuous with the sole motive and purpose of a forced takeover of the Company’s finances and management and the disputed family estate,” the plea, filed through advocate Smriti Churiwal, stated.

‘Alienate family estate’

The plea further alleged that the conduct of the respondents had reinforced apprehensions that attempts may be made to transfer or alienate family assets during the pendency of the mediation proceedings.

“The aforesaid conduct fortifies the applicant’s apprehension that there is every likelihood that the said respondents would make every attempt to transfer and alienate the family estate during the pendency of the mediation proceedings and would use the same only as a dilatory tactic with the sole motive of making the applicant’s lis and cause as infructuous,” the application stated.

The court was also informed that the “balance of convenience overwhelmingly” favoured Ms. Rani Kapur, as the respondents would suffer no prejudice if the family estate were preserved and the applicant permitted to manage the family trust.

“If the respondents are allowed to appoint new directors, remove bank signatories, and grant unlimited financial powers behind her back, transfer and alienate assets, it would create an irreversible situation that no future court order or mediation could easily undo”, the application added.

The respondents in the proceedings include Ms. Priya Kapur, Mr. Kapur’s sister Mandira Kapur Smith, and other family members, including children from his earlier marriage with actor Karisma Kapoor.

Ms. Rani Kapur has accordingly sought directions restraining Ms. Priya Kapur and other respondents from interfering with the functioning of the family trust and five companies linked to the family estate during the pendency of the mediation proceedings.

On May 7, the top court had appointed Mr. D.Y. Chandrachud as mediator to facilitate settlement talks between the warring factions. The court had also advised members of the Kapur family against making public statements or posting on social media about the dispute for the “entertainment of others”.

“This being a family affair, the endeavour on their part should be to get the dispute resolved at the earliest and put an end to the entire matter. We firmly believe that all parties should participate in the mediation proceedings with an open mind”, the Bench had observed.

Sunjay Kapur, chairperson of automotive component manufacturer Sona Comstar, died of a cardiac arrest while playing polo in London last year. The Rani Kapur Family Trust was constituted through a trust deed executed on October 26, 2017, and presently holds shares in Sona Comstar.

The proceedings before the apex court arise from a petition filed by octogenarian Rani Kapur seeking protection of the family estate. In her plea, Ms. Kapur has questioned the creation and functioning of the family trust, alleging that the structure effectively divested her of control over substantial assets without her informed consent.

According to the petition, the dispute dates back to 2017, when Ms. Kapur suffered a stroke. She has alleged that, following her medical condition, her late son and others orchestrated the transfer of key family assets into the trust without her complete knowledge or approval. The plea further claims that she was asked to sign documents under the guise of routine administrative formalities.

Published – May 12, 2026 02:42 pm IST