Delhi High Court Examines Rs 30,000 Crore Will Dispute Between Priya Kapur and Karisma Kapoor's Children

The Delhi High Court witnessed heated arguments on Friday as Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, representing Priya Kapur, and Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for Azarias Kapur, strongly contested allegations by Karisma Kapoor's children that their father Sunjay Kapur's will had been forged. Sunjay passed away on June 12 after collapsing during a polo match in England, reportedly from a sudden cardiac arrest.

Commencing the day's proceedings, Nayar characterized the case as "a construct of speculation, shifting goal posts and afterthoughts," while comparing the Kapoor family's behavior to "a wealthy Oliver Twist, who wants more."

Nayar refuted claims that Priya had suppressed the will, arguing that a testament's validity depends on its lawful execution rather than "timelines imagined by the plaintiffs." He emphasized that Priya delivered the original will to the executor on June 24, 2025 – a fact acknowledged by the complainants themselves.

He proceeded to highlight what he described as inconsistencies in Karisma Kapoor's actions following Sunjay's death. According to Nayar, despite Priya's repeated invitations to Delhi for the prayer meeting, Karisma declined. On July 30, at Hotel Taj Mansingh, the will was read to Karisma and her children with lawyers from all parties present. Nayar contended that at this point, Karisma was solely focused on the Rs 2,465 crore trust share designated for her children as beneficiaries.

He stated that Karisma exclusively pressed for BEN-1 forms, exchanged friendly WhatsApp messages thanking Priya for sending documents, and did not request a copy of the will until 22 days after the reading. "The record shows one clear truth - Karisma Kapoor's only interest was the trust, not the will," Nayar submitted, reiterating, "This is the conduct of a wealthy Oliver Twist, who wants more."

The defense claimed that Karisma filed the present suit challenging the personal will on the same day Priya informed her that her children's beneficial interest in the trust had been secured.

Addressing objections about typographical errors in the document, Nayar referenced the 2024 will of Rani Kapur – Sunjay's mother – which had served as a template. This template, he explained, accounts for identical misspellings, the document's structure, and even the use of the word "Testatrix" - denoting a woman who has made a will. He maintained that every alleged irregularity could be explained by the existing digital trail and nothing about the Will was suspicious. "Every document, email and digital footprint is already on record," he stated.

Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal argued that the complainants were improperly attempting to transform an interim-relief hearing into a substantive trial. "Every judgment they rely on is post-trial. Order 39 is not a mini-trial," he submitted. Sibal also noted that Karisma filed the suit during the very week Priya was helping her daughter Samaira move into a new apartment, observing that "Good faith was met with litigation."

Sibal asserted that "every factual thread in the record points to a validly executed Will," and the challenge only emerged after the plaintiffs had secured a ₹2,465 crore benefit. He added that the balance of convenience favored the defendants, as "injunctions cannot be granted on conjecture dressed as suspicion."

The matter is scheduled to be heard next on November 27.

The previous day, during an additional round of arguments, Priya Kapur informed the Court that it was a "healthy tradition" in the Kapur family for husbands to bequeath their assets to their wives. Nayar submitted that Sunjay's father had similarly left everything to his wife, Rani Kapur, and Sunjay's will followed this pattern. "There is nothing suspicious about a husband giving everything in his assets to his wife. As is the case in my father-in-law's Will where everything was given to his wife," he said, describing it as a long-standing family practice.

The court is hearing the challenge brought by Sunjay Kapur's children - Samaira and Kiaan - to the purported will governing assets reportedly worth Rs 30,000 crore. The children have sought an interim injunction to prevent Priya Kapur from alienating any of Sunjay's assets until the will's authenticity is established.

During the hearing, Nayar revealed that on February 10, a printout of the will was shown to Sunjay. He suggested several changes, which were incorporated into subsequent drafts. The final modifications were made on March 17 while Sunjay was in Goa, he added. Priya's will and Sunjay's will were executed on the same day, something Nayar characterized as customary for a married couple.