The sudden demise of billionaire industrialist Sunjay Kapur in June 2025 has spiraled into a high-stakes legal war over his estimated Rs 30,000 crore estate. Amid allegations of a suspicious will that excludes his mother, sisters, and children from his first marriage to actor Karisma Kapoor, his sister Mandhira Kapur Smith has launched a fierce defence of the family's legacy, countering accusations of greed.
A Family Divided Over a Multi-Crore Fortune
Sunjay Kapur, the owner of auto components giant Sona Comstar, died unexpectedly in England after reportedly swallowing a bee, which led to a cardiac arrest. His death left behind a complex family web: two children, Samaira and Kiaan, with ex-wife Karisma Kapoor, and a third wife, Priya Sachdev Kapoor, whom he married in 2017 and with whom he has a son.
The core of the dispute is a will that allegedly bequeaths the entirety of Sunjay's personal estate to Priya and her children, including her daughter from a previous marriage. This document reportedly left nothing for his mother Rani Kapur, his sisters, or his children with Karisma. Karisma's children have taken Priya to court, labelling the will "bogus" and pointing to errors like misspelled names and incorrect addresses.
Mandhira Kapur's Emotional Defence and Serious Allegations
In a candid interview on the InControversial Podcast, Mandhira Kapur, who is supporting Karisma Kapoor's children, vehemently denied being motivated by personal gain. She framed her fight as one for justice and her family's birthright.
"I have not come forward to grab anything from my brother. I am fighting for what this family stands for," Mandhira stated, addressing online trolls. She emphasized the origin of the wealth: "My brother didn't create this wealth; my father did. This is part of my inheritance and my children's inheritance."
She expressed disbelief that Sunjay would disinherit his older children. "His son was his best friend. His daughter was his first love... There is no way in hell he chose his third wife over his two kids," she argued emotionally.
Mandhira also raised alarming questions about the circumstances of her brother's death and subsequent events. "I don't believe my brother died of natural causes," she said, noting that Priya was reinstated to key company positions the morning after Sunjay's death. "For this to be the first step you take the very next morning after losing your husband—it's shocking to me." She demanded to see the full coroner's report.
Mounting Legal Claims and Counter-Claims
The legal battle is fraught with serious allegations from both sides. Sunjay's mother, Rani Kapur, has also called the will suspicious, claiming his marriage to Priya was strained. The family alleges Priya's removal from company boards in 2023 was deliberate, a claim Priya has attributed to restructuring.
In court, Priya Kapur has countered that Karisma's children have already received assets worth approximately Rs 1,900 crore from the family's RK Trust, implying Sunjay saw no need for further bequeathal. However, the Kapur family and Karisma's children maintain that as Class I legal heirs, they are entitled to a fair share of the estate created by patriarch Surinder Kapur.
The case continues to unfold, revealing deep fractures within one of India's prominent business families. It underscores not just a fight over immense wealth, but a bitter struggle over legacy, familial bonds, and the truth behind a billionaire's final wishes.
