New Delhi:The Supreme Court of India has appointed former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud to act as a mediator in a significant legal conflict within the Kapur industrialist family. The dispute centres on a family trust and pits Rani Kapur, the mother of the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur, against his widow, Priya Kapur. A bench consisting of Justices JB Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the parties to enter the mediation process with an open mind, stressing that the matter remains a private family affair. The justices specifically cautioned against making any public declarations or social media posts regarding the proceedings, stating that such internal disagreements should not be treated as a source of public entertainment.
The court’s intervention comes after it suggested mediation during a previous hearing on April 27, noting the sensitive nature of the familial ties involved. On Thursday, legal representatives for both sides expressed their willingness to proceed with this alternative dispute resolution method. The legal battle originated from a lawsuit filed by 80-year-old Rani Kapur, who has challenged the validity of the family trust established in October 2017. She alleges that the trust was formed through the use of forged, fabricated, and fraudulent documentation. Consequently, she has sought a declaration to render the trust null and void.
While the primary litigation concerning the control of the estate and its various assets continues in the Delhi High Court, the petition before the Supreme Court focuses on maintaining the status quo to prevent any alienation of the trust’s properties. The apex court has indicated that it will await a preliminary report from former Chief Justice Chandrachud before deciding on the next steps in the case. The matter is currently scheduled for further consideration in August, allowing time for the mediation process to unfold away from the public eye.
