The courtroom battle over late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s massive estate, valued at around Rs 30,000 crore, began on Wednesday after his wife Priya Kapur opposed a petition filed by his two children from his first marriage with actor Karisma Kapoor.

The children challenged a purported will dated March 21 that allegedly left Sunjay’s entire personal estate to Priya. They argued that their father never mentioned such a will and that Priya or anyone else had not spoken of its existence until weeks after his death. Sunjay collapsed during a polo match in England on June 12.

The petition, filed on behalf of Samaira Kapur through her mother Karisma, and on behalf of minor Kiaan with Karisma as legal guardian, sought one-fifth share each in their father’s assets.

Representing Priya Kapur, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar told Justice Jyoti Singh that the case was not maintainable. “This suit is not maintainable at all. I am his legal wife. The claims of love and affection,  where was all this when they fought prolonged divorce legal battles in the Supreme Court. Your husband left you several years ago,” he said, referring to Karisma and Sunjay’s 2016 divorce.

He added: “The plaintiffs ought to have told your ladyships that acrimonious divorce proceedings ended up in the top court. So much love. We have a man who has died. Show some sympathy. I am a widow. I was his last lawfully wedded wife. Where were you? Your husband left you many years ago.”

Priya further argued that Karisma’s children had already received assets worth Rs 1,900 crore through the RK Family Trust. “So much crying.. The plaintiffs received Rs 1,900 crore worth of assets under the Trust. I don’t know how much is enough,” she said.

 In their civil suit, Samaira and Kiaan alleged that Priya had forged their father’s will to take complete control of his estate. They asked the court for partition of assets, accounting of all properties, and a permanent injunction against Priya, her son, her mother-in-law Rani Kapur, and alleged executor Shradha Suri Marwah.

Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the petitioners, argued that Priya had earlier denied the existence of a will. “All along, the plaintiffs on enquiry were told by Priya Kapur that there was no will,” he said, adding that the will was suddenly revealed at an RK Family Trust meeting at Taj Mansingh Hotel in Delhi on July 30.

He claimed that Priya’s associates, Dinesh Agarwal and Nitin Sharma, suppressed the will for over seven weeks before presenting it at the meeting. “The minors (Samaira and Kiaan) are class 1 heirs… one day before the funeral, she is made Managing Director of a company which controls substantial holdings in the Trust,” Jethmalani told the court.

Calling the document a “forged will,” he pointed out that it was not even registered.

When asked why the will was not shared with the children, Nayar responded that registering a will was not mandatory under the law.

The court, however, directed Priya to produce the document. “I don’t understand why you did not give the copy of the will to the children. Where is the will? Please pass it on,” the bench said.

Issuing notice to the defendants, Justice Singh ordered that Priya file a detailed list of all movable and immovable assets known to her as of June 12. Replies are to be filed within two weeks, rejoinders within one week thereafter. The matter will next be heard on October 9.

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