Supreme Court Appoints Former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud to Mediate Sona Group’s Kapur Family Dispute
NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court of India on Thursday appointed former Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud as a mediator to resolve the escalating inheritance dispute within the Kapur family. The legal battle, involving Rani Kapur and Priya Sachdev Kapur, centres on the alleged RK Family Trust, which is inextricably linked to the multi-million-dollar Sona Group estate.
A Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the mediation order after all involved parties mutually agreed to explore an out-of-court settlement. The apex court has scheduled the next hearing for August, pending a preliminary progress report from the newly appointed mediator.
Strict Directives on Public Statements
Recognising the sensitive and highly publicised nature of the feud, the Supreme Court issued strict oral directives urging all parties to refrain from making public statements or social media posts regarding the ongoing litigation.
“It’s a family dispute; let it be confined among the family only. It should not be a source of entertainment,” the Justice Pardiwala-led Bench remarked. The court firmly clarified that the mediation proceedings would be strictly confidential and limited to resolving the grievances among the family members. “The endeavour should be to resolve the dispute and put an end to the matter. We firmly believe all parties should participate in the mediation with an open mind,” the Bench added.
The Root of the Inheritance Battle
The core of the legal conflict lies in the creation and operational control of the RK Family Trust (also referred to as the Rani Kapur Family Trust). The trust has been legally challenged by 80-year-old Rani Kapur, who has labelled its formation as fraudulent and illegal.
According to her suit, Rani Kapur asserts that she is the sole legitimate beneficiary of the estate left by her late husband, industrialist and Sona Group founder Dr. Surinder Kapur, who passed away in 2015. She claims that all movable and immovable properties were bequeathed to her through a formal will, which was subsequently probated by the Bombay High Court in 2016.
Her petition alleges that despite the court-probated will, her entire estate was clandestinely diverted into a newly fabricated trust without her knowledge or informed consent. Describing herself as a victim of “illegal acts, forgery, and undue influence,” the octogenarian claimed that control over key group companies was abruptly seized following the recent death of her son, industrialist Sunjay Kapur.
Delhi High Court Intervention
The Supreme Court’s push for mediation follows related legal developments in the Delhi High Court. Recently, a single-judge Bench of Justice Jyoti Singh granted interim protection to Sunjay Kapur’s children from his previous marriage to Bollywood actor Karisma Kapoor—Samaira Kapur and Kiaan Kapur.
The Delhi High Court restrained Priya Sachdev Kapur (Sunjay Kapur's widow) from dissipating, transferring, or creating third-party rights over key portions of the deceased industrialist’s estate pending the final adjudication of the inheritance suit. Justice Singh observed that suspicious circumstances surrounding the purported will had been legitimately raised by both the children and Rani Kapur.
Consequently, the High Court barred the alteration of equity and shareholding structures in Sunjay Kapur’s Indian companies. Furthermore, it strictly prohibited the withdrawal of provident fund amounts and the disposal of artworks, personal effects, and cryptocurrencies linked to the contested estate.
Our Final Thoughts
The Supreme Court’s decision to appoint a legal luminary of former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud's stature underscores the immense complexity and high stakes of the Sona Group inheritance battle. By actively pushing for mediation and imposing a gag order on public statements, the judiciary is attempting to protect both the dignity of the family and the corporate stability of a major industrial estate. The coming months will be critical to see if closed-door mediation can untangle a web of corporate control, alleged forgery, and deep-seated family grievances without prolonged litigation.