Karisma’s lawyer terms Priya Kapur’s plea on Sunjay Kapur divorce papers ‘not maintainable’

Actor Karisma Kapoor’s lawyer has opposed a plea filed by Priya Kapur Sachdev.

The widow of industrialist Sunjay Kapur, seeking access to divorce documents related to his marriage with the actor, arguing that the petition is “not maintainable”. The Kapur family is currently embroiled in a legal dispute over the inheritance of Sunjay Kapur’s estate, estimated to be worth around Rs 30,000 crore. The dispute involves Kapur’s mother Rani Kapur, sister Mandhira Kapur Smith, ex-wife Karisma Kapoor and their two children, and his third wife Priya Kapur Sachdev.

Sunjay Kapur, 53, died on June 12 after suffering a heart attack during a polo match, allegedly triggered by a bee sting.

During the hearing, Karisma Kapoor’s counsel told the court that Priya Kapur was a third party to the divorce proceedings between Sunjay Kapur and the actor, and therefore had no legal standing to seek related documents. On this basis, the counsel argued that the plea was not maintainable.

The court, however, asked Karisma Kapoor’s counsel to file a formal response to the petition within two weeks and kept the question of maintainability open. The matter was heard in chambers by Justice A.S. Chandurkar.

Reacting sharply to Priya Kapur’s plea, Sunjay Kapur’s sister Mandhira Kapur Smith termed the move “ridiculous”. Speaking to News18, she questioned the need for divorce papers between her brother and Karisma Kapoor. “I have full trust in the judiciary of the country,” she said.

Responding to Priya Kapur’s claims that Karisma’s children and Sunjay Kapur’s mother had received substantial amounts in trust, Mandhira said, “Who is she? It’s not hers to give. It belonged to my brother.”

Sunjay Kapur was the chairman of Sona Comstar, a global automotive components manufacturer with operations across India, China, Mexico, Serbia and the US, including facilities catering to electric vehicle production. Forbes estimated his net worth at $1.2 billion (around Rs 10,300 crore) in 2024, with a peak valuation of $1.6 billion (approximately Rs 13,000 crore).

Founded by his father Surinder Kapur in 1997, Sona Comstar came under Sunjay Kapur’s leadership following Surinder’s death in 2015.

Separately, Karisma Kapoor’s children, Samaira Kapur and Kiaan Raj Kapur, have approached the Delhi High Court seeking a share in their late father’s estate. Their petition challenges the validity of a will disclosed to them after Sunjay Kapur’s death, alleging it to be “forged and fabricated”.

Sunjay Kapur and Karisma Kapoor married in September 2003 and divorced in June 2016. The couple had two children together. Following the divorce, Kapur purchased bonds worth Rs 14 crore for the children and transferred ownership of a house, earlier owned by his father, to Karisma Kapoor. He later married Priya Kapur in April 2017, and the couple had one child.

According to court filings, the executor of Sunjay Kapur’s estate has informed Karisma Kapoor that neither she nor her children are named beneficiaries in the will, though she has been offered the option to inspect the document at the executor’s office.