Source TOI
NEW DELHI — In a significant legal development involving one of India’s most prominent industrial families, the Delhi High Court has ordered a total freeze on the assets of the late businessman Sunjay Kapur. Justice Jyoti Singh issued the interim order on Thursday, April 30, 2026, directing that the status quo be maintained until “suspicious circumstances” surrounding his purported last will are fully addressed.
A High-Stakes Family Battle
The legal intervention follows a petition filed by the children of Bollywood actor Karisma Kapoor—Sunjay’s second wife—who have challenged the validity of the will presented by his widow, Priya Sachdev Kapur. The estate in question, reportedly valued at approximately ₹30,000 crore, includes substantial equity in Indian companies, luxury artworks, foreign bank accounts, and cryptocurrency holdings.
The court noted that if the assets were not preserved now, the children and Sunjay’s mother, Rani Kapur, could be “deprived of their legitimate shares” should the contested will be found invalid during the trial.
Key Directives of the Court Order
The interim injunction places strict limitations on the management of the estate:
Corporate Interests: Priya Kapur is restrained from alienating, transferring, or pledging equity shareholdings in Sunjay’s three primary Indian companies.
Financial Assets: The court has frozen the operation of foreign bank accounts and cryptocurrency investments linked to the late industrialist.
Personal Property: The disposal of personal effects, including a valuable collection of artwork, has been barred.
Maintenance Exception: While bank accounts are largely restricted, the court allowed for the discharge of financial liabilities toward the children as per previous divorce decrees.
“Suspicious Circumstances”
A central theme of the ruling was the burden of proof regarding the authenticity of the will. Justice Jyoti Singh observed:
“All legitimate suspicious circumstances raised by the plaintiffs will have to be completely removed by [Priya Kapur] before the document is accepted as the last will.”
The court emphasized that because a full trial is likely to take significant time, the preservation of the estate is a “routine and balanced” necessity to prevent the dissipation of wealth.
Reactions from the Family
The ruling has been hailed as a victory by Sunjay’s sister, Mandhira Kapur, who described the order as a “positive first step” toward protecting her mother’s and the children’s interests. Legal representatives for Priya Kapur, however, maintained that the preservation of assets was offered voluntarily and that they remain confident in the “unimpeachable digital footprint” of the contested will.
The case remains under adjudication as the court prepares for a detailed forensic examination of the testamentary documents.
