The late businessman Sunjay Kapur’s widow Priya Kapur told the Delhi High Court that Karisma Kapoor’s children had already received Rs 1,900 crore from a family trust before filing their inheritance suit.
In a fresh twist to the inheritance dispute over late businessman Sunjay Kapur’s estate, his widow Priya Kapur has told the Delhi High Court that Karisma Kapoor’s children had already received assets worth Rs 1,900 crore from the family trust before they filed their suit.
Appearing for Priya Kapur, her lawyer submitted, “Rs 1,900 crore worth of assets were transferred to the children. I don’t know how much money is enough.” The remark was made to counter allegations that the children had been excluded from their father’s estate and deprived of their rightful share.
The lawyer further argued, “The court is not considering the case of a person standing on a road, and they have already received Rs 1,900 crore.” The submission implied that the plaintiffs could not claim to have been left with nothing.
However, legal experts point out that trust assets and personal assets are treated separately under Indian law. Under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, assets transferred to a trust are managed by trustees and enjoyed by beneficiaries under the terms of the trust deed, not through inheritance.
Inheritance of personal assets, on the other hand, is governed by the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, and the Indian Succession Act, 1925. Heirs remain entitled to their statutory share unless excluded by a valid will.
This means that even if Rs 1,900 crore was transferred from the trust, it does not prevent the children from claiming a share in Sunjay Kapur’s personal estate.
Karisma Kapoor’s children have approached the High Court seeking partition, rendition of accounts, and a permanent injunction over their father’s estate. They have alleged that Priya Kapur concealed information, withheld documents, and may have taken steps to “deal with and fritter away” the assets.
