Delhi HC questions Priya over Sunjay's forged will allegations
What's the story
The legal battle over the will of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur took a new turn on Friday, as the Delhi High Court raised fresh questions about its authenticity. The bench asked Kapur's wife, Priya Sachdev Kapur's defense team to explain errors and missing procedures in the document, reported Bollywood Hungama. The court had earlier highlighted incorrect addresses, misspelled names, selective listing of beneficiaries, wrong genders, and no inventory of assets, among other issues.
Template theory
Defense's 'template theory' reportedly fails to convince the court
On Thursday, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar had defended the inaccuracies by claiming that the will was based on a "template" from Kapur's mother, Rani Kapur's will. However, the court asked why a billionaire would rely on his mother's will as a template and overlook basic details about his children and assets.
Notarization issues
Discrepancies in notarization and registration of wills
The defense was asked why Rani's will was notarized and procedurally sound while Kapur's, which involved much larger assets, was neither notarized nor registered, per Bollywood Hungama. The court also noted that no messages or emails from Kapur referencing the document have been produced.
Merging issues
Defense's attempt to merge unrelated matters raises eyebrows
The defense further claimed that expenses for Kapur's ex-wife, Karisma Kapoor's children, Samaira and Kiaan, covered under the divorce consent terms, were equivalent to the alleged ₹2,000 crore benefit from the RK Family Trust. However, court records show these consent-term payments are mandatory obligations resting with the Estate and cannot be treated as trust benefits.
Unpain university bills
Kapoor's child claims unpaid university bills, Sachdev Kapur shows proof
In an earlier hearing, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, representing Kapoor's children, noted that under the matrimonial decree, Sachdev Kapur was responsible for covering his children's education and living expenses. However, Jethmalani claimed, "(Kapoor's) daughter (22) studying in the US has not received two months' fees." Sachdev Kapur's lawyer, Sheyl Trehan, refuted these claims and submitted documents showing the receipt of a ₹95-lakh-per-semester payment. "The next instalment of the fees is only due in December," Sachdev Kapur's legal team said.
Kapur's son's plea
Sachdev Kapur's son has opposed Kapoor's children's plea
On Friday, Kapur and Sachdev Kapur's six-year-old son opposed Kapoor's kids' plea challenging the will's authenticity. Senior advocate Akhil Sibal told Justice Jyoti Singh, "This entire case is based on speculation and guesswork. Their case is that on July 30, the executor reads it out hurriedly, slashes a document, and reads it out selectively." Kapoor and Kapur were married between 2003 and 2016, while Sachdev Kapur married Kapur in 2017.
Defense argument
Sachdev Kapur's defense argues for will's authenticity
Sachdev Kapur's counsel maintains that both her and Kapur's wills were made on the same day. Nayar emphasized that there's nothing suspicious about a husband giving everything in his assets to his wife. He also clarified that this isn't a case of disinheriting Kapoor's children. Kapur died on June 12 after collapsing during a polo match in England, reportedly due to a sudden cardiac arrest. The court will hear further arguments on November 27.