Sunjay Kapur’s death in June this year led to a legal battle between his third wife Priya Sachdev Kapur, his ex-wife Karisma Kapoor’s children, and his mother Rani Kapur. While Karisma and Sunjay’s kids — Samaira and Kiaan — accused their stepmother of forging his will, Rani Kapur has also levelled fresh allegations against Priya, accusing her of hiding Sunjay’s assets and even moving his wealth overseas. Here’s a detailed look at all the accusations Rani Kapur has made against Priya Sachdeva:
‘Sunjay’s salary was Rs 60 crore but his account had Rs 1.7 crore’
During the Monday hearing, lawyers representing Rani Kapur told the Delhi High Court that Priya had concealed the value of Sunjay’s assets, pointing out that his salary was Rs 60 crore per year, along with luxury assets and a 6.5% stake in Sona Comstar valued at roughly Rs 650 crore. However, the counsel, Vaibhav Gaggar, said that in her submissions, Priya allegedly showed only Rs 1.7 crore in bank accounts.
According to Hindustan Times, the counsel said, “Massive concealment. This house (farmhouse in Delhi’s Rajokri area) is built by my late husband. There are more than 50 pieces of artwork there… Sunjay Kapur had no life insurance, no rental income, and mutual funds? His salary was Rs 60 crore, and we are saying that he has only Rs 1.7 crore in his accounts.”
On Karisma Kapoor’s children receiving Rs 1,900 crore worth of shares
Her counsel also spoke about Karisma Kapoor’s children not getting anything from his personal estate since they received Rs 1,900 crore worth of shares from the RK Trust. It is the family trust where Rani is the settlor. “It is not for him (Sunjay) to bequeath (from the trust)…so this entire thing to say there’s fairness in the will is wrong….he couldn’t have under law, and he has not given it…The Rs 1,900 cr worth of shares being transferred, it was not for Ms Sachdev (Priya) to give, couldn’t have been and it could not have been for Mr Sunjay to give…I being the settler of the trust, and the sole beneficiary is (in charge of the trust’s control).”
‘Money moved overseas’
Rani’s counsel also alleged that Priya has moved the money across borders. “My lady may seek details of two years, not just of Mr Kapur but also of Defendant No 1 (Priya Kapur) because the money has moved. Any interim order must be in the nature of status quo ante because the money has moved across borders, potentially,” he said, as per NDTV.
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‘Mother not even mentioned in the will’
Rani Kapur’s counsel argued that she wasn’t informed about the will and raised doubt about Sunjay leaving the entire estate to Priya. “If he truly intended to leave me out, he would have said so expressly,” her counsel submitted during the hearing.
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The counsel also pointed out that Sona Comstar was built by Rani’s husband and Sunjay’s father, Surinder Kapoor, but despite that, Rani wasn’t even mentioned in the will. “An 80-year-old has been told today that she has not even been mentioned in the Will. There is not even a whisper about her. That she has no ownership in the company built by her husband, which was exclusively left to her,” he said.
The counsel further argued that Rani’s name was not mentioned in the will despite the company being built by her husband, who had left it to her. He also challenged Priya Kapur’s counsel’s assertion that a husband bequeathing his personal assets to his wife is a Kapur family tradition, since Sunjay Kapur’s father had also willed his entire property to Rani Kapur.
Contesting Priya’s argument, he said, “How can you compare the two? She (Priya Kapur) was married to Sunjay for seven years. This was his third and her second marriage. I was married to my husband for forty years. The distinction doesn’t end here. Our Will was registered. The witness to our Will was a person whom my husband had known for 30 years. Here, the witness says he wasn’t even associated with the company before 2022,” Rani Kapoor has contended.
‘Priya planted witnesses’
Rani Kapur also accused Priya of plotting to take control of his assets immediately after his death, even while the family was mourning. Her lawyer claimed that one Dinesh Aggarwal was appointed director of Aureous a day after Sunjay’s death in June. The counsel claimed that Dinesh — one of the witnesses in the disputed will — works at Priya’s “dictate”.
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“Star witnesses (of the will) are closely working at the dictate of the propounder and sole beneficiary. They are totally going to be speaking for only 1 side. Fairness doesn’t seem to be anywhere in this,” the senior lawyer said.
‘Everything goes to her within 3 months of marriage?’
During a previous hearing in September, Rani Kapur questioned how Sunjay transferred his entire estate to Priya’s name within three months of their marriage. “Her vested interest goes into trust. All gone. I am nowhere. Ms Sachdev comes in, within three months of her getting married, everything goes? My son today leaves me with no roof over my head? I am Rani Kapur,” the mother had said.
Rani Kapur claimed Rs 10,000 cr from Sunjay’s Rs 30 cr wealth
Rani Kapur had also claimed that assets worth Rs 10,000 crore are hers from Sunjay Kapur’s estimated assets worth Rs 30,000 crore. “I have written at least 15 emails asking about the will, what are the documents? Not a word has been shared. I have been told that my emails have been compromised. There is something incredibly unholy. Rs 10,000 crore worth of assets should have been mine,” she said during the hearing in September.
Sunjay Kapur's mother accused Priya Sachdev of hiding his assest. (Photo: Instagram/Priya Sachdev)