The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered the preservation of assets of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur, observing that all “suspicious circumstances” surrounding his purported will must be addressed before it can be accepted.
Justice Jyoti Singh passed the interim direction on a plea filed by Kapur’s children from his marriage with actor Karisma Kapoor, who sought to restrain his first wife, Priya Kapur, from alienating assets reportedly worth Rs 30,000 crore.
The application was moved as part of a suit challenging the validity of Kapur’s alleged last will, with the children contending that the circumstances surrounding it require closer judicial scrutiny.
"Having heard and on examination of the material on record, I have the considered view that all legitimate suspicious circumstances raised by the plaintiffs will have to be completely removed by defendant number one (Priya Kapur) before the document is accepted as the last will," the judge said.
"Plaintiffs have made out a prima-facie case that the assets which are subject matter need to be protected, preserved, pending disposal of the suit," she added.
Justice Singh ordered that the equity shareholdings in the three Indian companies of the deceased cannot be changed and also restrained the disposal of his personal effects, including artwork.
The court said if the assets are not preserved and Priya Kapur ultimately fails to prove the validity and genuineness of the will, the deceased's children from his marriage with Karisma Kapoor -- his second wife -- and his mother Rani Kapur would be deprived of their legitimate shares.
"I have restrained from alienating, transferring, pledging, liquidating or in any other manner changing the equity shareholdings in the three Indian companies. I have restrained from withdrawing the PF amount. I have restrained from withdrawing monies from the three accounts except to the extent of discharging liabilities towards the children," the judge said.
The court clarified that it has not passed the order with respect to immovable foreign assets.
A detailed copy of the verdict is awaited.
Sunjay Kapur died on June 12, 2025, after collapsing during a polo match in England. He had reportedly suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.
(With inputs from PTI)