In a dramatic continuation of the inheritance battle over late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s estate, his widow Priya Sachdev Kapur on Thursday moved the Delhi High Court seeking permission to file her late husband’s personal assets and liabilities in a sealed cover, insisting on confidentiality amid intense media scrutiny.
Priya’s application, presented by senior advocate Sheyl Trehan, argued that “bank and DMAT account details” were at risk of being exposed in the public domain, and that pleadings were already being leaked to the press. “I am not shying away from giving it to anyone… all the parties may have it,” Trehan told the bench, “my only request is I can file it in sealed cover so that it does not leak to the public at large and media”.
But the court, recalling its earlier observation that beneficiaries must have full access to asset details to mount any defence, pressed Priya’s team on what made this case exceptional.
“Tomorrow, like any other suit, when you file your written statement, you will set up a defence of Will… how will they file replication if they don’t have these details?” Justice Jyoti Singh asked.
The bench stressed that a blanket seal would prejudice the rights of actor Karisma Kapoor’s children, Samaira and Kiaan Raj, who allege that the March 2025 Will favouring Priya is forged.
The High Court, which on September 24 refused Priya’s first plea for a sealed schedule and invited limited redactions instead, has now listed the fresh application for Friday, September 26 at 2.30 pm.
‘Money wiped out from bank’, claim Karisma’s counsel
Sunjay’s children with Karisma Kapoor, Samaira and Kiaan Raj Kapoor, seek one-fifth shares each in their father’s estate and have accused Priya of attempting to hide asset details under the guise of an NDA. Their counsel warned that property records and bank accounts could vanish, leaving nothing for the Bollywood scions to claim.
Reports also said that the lawyers appearing for Karisma Kapoor’s children even claimed that all the money had been wiped off from the bank account disclosed in a contested will left by Sunjay.
Priya’s counsel, however, asked to propose “holistic” measures that protect confidentiality without impeding the rightful heirs’ ability to challenge and verify the disclosures.
