The Delhi High Court on Friday heard the ongoing trial of the inheritance dispute between actor Karisma Kapoor`s children and their stepmother, Priya Sachdev Kapur. Karisma`s daughter told the court that Priya has not been releasing their educational expenses, and hence, her fees for two months remain unpaid. Meanwhile, the court observed that the proceedings should not turn “melodramatic”.
Karisma Kapoor`s daughter claims educational expenses not released
The bench of Justice Jyoti Singh`s remark came after Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, who represents Karisma Kapoor`s children, submitted his arguments. He claimed that despite Sunjay Kapur`s obligation under the matrimonial decree to bear the children`s educational and living expenses, the tuition fee of Sunjay`s daughter, Samaira, had reportedly not been paid for two months. The daughter is currently studying in the United States. According to the lawyer, the children`s share of the estate remains in Priya Kapur`s possession.
Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayyar, appearing for Priya Kapur, responded to the claims, refuting the allegation and calling it “fabricated”. He declared that Priya has consistently taken care of the children`s needs and that the fee had already been paid. He further continued to defend the authenticity of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur`s will. He went on to lay out a step-by-step account of the will`s drafting, revision and execution, supporting it by electronic metadata and affidavits from the two attesting witnesses, Nitin Sharma and Dinesh Agarwal.
Advocate tells court Sunjay reviewed the will
He informed the court that the late industrialist had personally reviewed the draft, and asked for the inclusion of his daughter Safira`s name, and appointed Shraddha Marwah as executor. The will was allegedly executed at the AIPL office in Gurgaon in the presence of both witnesses, one of whom later scanned and shared the executed document. The advocate added that the will was subsequently circulated in a family WhatsApp group, which had Sunjay, Priya and Agarwal, and that one of the witnesses confirmed handing over the signed original to Sunjay.
The court questioned why Sunjay did not appear in later electronic exchanges, to which Nayyar explained that wills take effect only after the testator`s death, and thus all subsequent communication naturally occurs posthumously.
He also dismissed objections regarding typographical errors, spelling variations or minor inconsistencies, noting that Supreme Court judgments clarify such issues do not undermine a valid will. Registration, he stressed, is not mandatory. He further pointed out that it has long been the Kapur family practice for their company secretary and chartered accountant to witness family wills, including the will of Dr Surinder Kapur.
The court was hearing submissions on an interim injunction sought by Karisma Kapoor`s children to restrain Priya Kapur from dealing with or alienating Sunjay Kapur`s assets. Karisma Kapoor and Sunjay Kapur were married from 2003 to 2016 and share two children. Sunjay later married Priya Sachdev Kapur. The High Court will continue hearing the injunction application on November 19 and has indicated its intention to conclude arguments on interim relief soon.
(With inputs from ANI)