The Supreme Court of India appointed former Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud as mediator in the high-profile Sona Group family trust dispute involving late businessman Sunjay Kapur’s estate. A Bench comprising Justices J. B. Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan directed all parties to pursue an amicable settlement through mediation.
The Supreme Court of India appointed former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud as a mediator to help resolve a closely watched dispute involving the Sona Group family trust and the estate of late businessman Sunjay Kapur. The court passed the order after all sides agreed to try for an amicable resolution through mediation.
A Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan directed that the case be taken up for mediation and ordered Rani Kapur, Sunjay Kapur’s mother; Priya Sachdev Kapur, his wife; and other stakeholders including the interests of his children from his earlier marriage with actor Karisma Kapoor to work toward a complete settlement under Justice Chandrachud’s supervision.
The dispute concerns Sunjay Kapur’s estate, which is reportedly valued at close to Rs 30,000 crore, and an alleged Will that is said to have left his entire personal property to Priya Kapur. The Will has been contested by Kapur’s children, Samaira Kapur and Kiaan Raj Kapur, as well as by his mother Rani Kapur, who have questioned the document’s authenticity and legal validity.
Earlier, the matter was before the Delhi High Court. Justice Jyoti Singh had observed that the “legitimate suspicions” surrounding the alleged Will would need to be addressed before it could be accepted as Sunjay Kapur’s final testament. In an interim order, the High Court further noted that, since Priya Kapur was both the propounder of the Will and its main beneficiary, she would have to clear all doubts raised by the challengers during the trial.
On Thursday, during the hearing before the Supreme Court, senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Rani Kapur, told the Bench that she wanted to remain in her matrimonial home in Delhi. He submitted that she is currently living in Mumbai with her daughter and clarified that the Delhi bungalow is owned under a company’s name.
The Supreme Court had previously urged the parties to consider mediation, noting its concern about a long-running inheritance battle involving an elderly litigant.
At an earlier stage, the Bench remarked,
“Why are you all fighting? This is not the age for your client to fight…go for mediation once and for all, from A to Z. Otherwise, this is a waste.”
The Court also observed,
“You are 80. This is not the age for your client to fight,”
The court highlighted that prolonged litigation would not serve much purpose and could only deepen differences within the family.
By directing mediation under the oversight of former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, the Supreme Court has now moved to encourage a negotiated settlement in one of the most closely watched disputes over inheritance and a family trust.
Case Title: Kapur vs Priya Sachdev Kapur
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