Delhi High Court permits Priya Sachdev Kapur to submit details of Sunjay Kapur’s estate in a sealed cover, maintaining confidentiality. Copies of the will will be shared with family, while the original stays with the court.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed Priya Sachdev Kapur, widow of the late businessman Sunjay Kapur, to submit the details of her late husband’s assets in a sealed cover to maintain confidentiality.
The matter was heard by a bench headed by Justice Jyoti Singh, which also directed Priya Kapur to share a copy of the will with Sunjay Kapur’s mother, Rani Kapur, while keeping the original in the custody of the Registrar-General of the court.
During the hearing, senior advocate Rajiv Nayyar, representing Priya Sachdev, suggested that the parties in the case “reach some understanding of confidentiality.”
Responding to this, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, representing actor Karisma Kapoor’s children, said,
“It is a case which has dimensions, and there is a will involved. Statements about (Karisma Kapoor’s) children have been made before the press.”
He further added,
“Cybersecurity is a risk in every case. What’s so special about this case?”
Both counsels for Priya Sachdev and Karisma Kapoor’s children assured the court that they would not disclose the contents to the media.
Priya Sachdev had filed a plea requesting permission to submit a list of Sunjay Kapur’s movable and immovable assets in a sealed envelope, citing cybersecurity risks and the possibility of misuse of sensitive financial information.
She also asked that all parties, including Kapur’s children from his first marriage to Karisma Kapoor and his mother, Rani Kapur, sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before accessing the documents.
Alternatively, she suggested forming a “Confidentiality Club” that would limit access to designated advocates and representatives.
This application arose from the court’s September 10 order, which directed Priya to file a complete statement of Sunjay Kapur’s assets and liabilities as of June 12.
During that hearing, Justice Jyoti Singh had issued a summons in the case, set timelines for pleadings, and ordered that the purported will in Priya’s custody be submitted in a sealed cover.
The suit was filed by Samaira and Kiaan Raj Kapur, through their mother Karisma Kapoor, seeking partition of the multi-crore estate, rendition of accounts, and a permanent injunction against Priya and other family members.
In previous hearings, advocate Jethmalani had questioned the authenticity of the will, alleging it was forged and produced under “suspicious circumstances,” including its sudden disclosure at the Taj Hotel and the executor being informed only a day earlier.
He argued that the unregistered will had never been disclosed to the family despite repeated assurances from Sunjay Kapur about his children’s financial security. On the other hand, advocate Nayyar contended that the children were already beneficiaries of family trusts and had recently received Rs 1,900 crore.
He added,
“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.”
Sanjay Kapur’s mother, Rani Kapur, also raised objections through senior advocate Vaibhav Gaggar, claiming her rights under the family trust were undermined after Priya’s marriage. Expressing concern for her grandchildren, she told the court,
“There’s something unholy going on. I am 80 years old and concerned for my grandchildren. Despite repeated emails, I never received a copy of the will.”
Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayyar, representing Priya Kapur, stated,
“As long as the parties agree the assets will be disclosed in a sealed cover and not shared publicly, I leave it to the court to devise a way. This is a partition suit, but it has attracted attention. Parties must respect confidentiality.”
The court then asked advocate Jethmalani, who said,
“Both sides are talking about confidentiality. I don’t understand the basis. There are serious apprehensions about the will and the trust. There is a public aspect here. The contents need to be disclosed to see what may have been left out.”
The court further observed, noting that there was no objection to disclosing the assets, and suggested using the “confidentiality club” under Delhi High Court Original Side rules to prevent public disclosure.
Jethmalani responded,
“Confidentiality here is a cloak to fritter away assets. I need sunlight in this case; two bank accounts have been wiped, and a 6% share in a company has been appropriated by the defendant. I have no interest in secrecy; the defendant has taken everything excluding others.”
Nayyar clarified,
“The measures are primarily for media and online reporting purposes,” while senior advocate Vaibhav Gaggar, representing Rani Kapur, noted, “If a confidentiality club is created, only two experts and three lawyers can access it. In this case, we’d need experts from across the world.”
The court asked,
“Mr. Nayar, why should anything be in a sealed cover here?” Nayyar replied, “There’s a trial by the press every day. I’ve already provided ₹97 lakhs to the children and am inviting a gag order on myself. We should maintain confidentiality to avoid media sensationalism.”
The court asked all parties,
“Do you all commit not to go to the press?”
Jethmalani responded,
“I can give an undertaking but leaks are likely. The public has a right to know the assets under litigation. Unless there’s something to hide, this prayer wouldn’t be made.”
Nayyar added,
“I will file the assets in a sealed cover. It’s for the court to decide who can access it. All parties should maintain confidentiality.”
The court clarified,
“Who will monitor leaks? The blame game will get murkier if the court has to police it. We are not creating a ‘confidentiality club.’ The defendant can file the asset list in a sealed cover. Copies will be shared with all parties.”
The court also required assurances from the lawyers that the case would not be discussed publicly. Nayyar stated,
“Neither he, his colleagues, nor his clients will make any statements to the press regarding this case.”
Similar assurances were provided by Jethmalani and Rani Kapur, the third defendant.
The court then addressed the main concern, noting,
“The will is now filed and everyone has access to it, so what is the problem?” Counsel responded that it remained “in a sealed cover.”
Finally, the court ordered,
“This is an application on behalf of Defendant No. 3. The original will has been filed in a sealed cover. The will be kept in the possession and custody with the Registrar General. Let the copy be provided to Defendant No. 3,” subject to the undertaking that “the will will not be leaked to the media and will be used discreetly when required.”
The applications were disposed of, with the court directing that replies be filed before the next date and the matter be listed again on November 11, 2025.
This development ensures that sensitive financial information related to Sunjay Kapur’s estate will remain confidential while still being accessible to relevant parties, reflecting the court’s careful balance between privacy, transparency, and media scrutiny.
Case Title:
MS. SAMAIRA KAPUR & ANR. V/s MRS. PRIYA KAPUR & ORS. CS(OS)-627/2025
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