Delhi High Court Permits Sunjay Kapur's Widow to Submit Asset List in Sealed Cover Amid Family Property Dispute

The Delhi High Court granted permission on Friday for Priya Kapur, widow of late Sunjay Kapur, to submit a list of his assets in a sealed cover while recommending that all parties involved in the property dispute refrain from sharing details with the media.

Justice Jyoti Singh acknowledged the commitments made by counsel for all parties, including Priya Kapur and representatives for Sunjay's children from his previous marriage to actress Karisma Kapoor.

The court order stated, "Mr Rajiv Nayar (counsel for Priya Kapur) submits that neither he nor any other lawyer on his side nor his clients will give any press statement concerning this case. A similar assurance is given by Mr Mahesh Jethmalani (counsel for children), as also defendant number 3 (Sunjay Kapur's mother Rani Kapur)."

Mr. Jethmalani expressed concerns about confidentiality measures, stating, "I don't understand what is the ground of confidentiality. I have nine press releases where they have talked about the trust... There are public aspect to this case. There has been attempts to shield the will. In this case I say that confidentiality is a cloak under which you fetter away the assets."

The court was reviewing Priya's request to file Sunjay's personal assets and liabilities list in a sealed cover with confidentiality binding the parties, or alternatively, establishing a confidentiality club.

Senior advocate Nayar, representing Priya, argued against making asset details public, commenting, "There is a media trial daily. After Mr Modi (Prime Minister), this is the only news daily."

Following the judge's suggestion that all parties agree not to share information with the media, counsel unanimously consented.

The court then directed, "A copy of the 'will' be supplied to the defendant subject to the undertaking that it will be used discreetly and that the party or advocates would not leak it to public."

Previously, on September 25, the court had noted that filing Kapur's personal assets and liabilities list in a sealed cover could be "problematic" as his children with Karisma Kapoor have the "right to question the assets disclosed."

The high court had instructed Priya to provide a list of his assets on September 10.

Samaira and Kiaan Raj, Sunjay's children with Karisma Kapoor, have contested his purported will and are seeking shares in his assets reportedly valued at Rs 30,000 crore. Priya informed the court that they have already received Rs 1,900 crore from the family trust.