The Supreme Court has extended the mediation process until November 2, 2026, expressing 'very much hopeful' that the ongoing mediation between the family members of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur would culminate in an amicable settlement. According to the latest reports, Justice JB Pardiwala observed during the hearing that "If mediation fails, we will allow both parties to proceed in accordance with the law, but let that day not come." The Court urged all sides to make a sincere effort to settle the matter before the mediation process reaches a dead end, emphasizing its preference for a negotiated settlement over prolonged legal proceedings. The Bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran noted that mediation proceedings so far have been conducted over 6 sessions and are proceeding quite satisfactorily, with the Court happy to note that the mediation is proceeding quite satisfactorily and that parties are cooperating.
Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, who was appointed mediator in the matter on May 7, submitted a preliminary report on August 5 that detailed the mediation's progress. As reported by Bar and Bench, the Court noted that mediation proceedings so far have been conducted over 6 sessions and are proceeding quite satisfactorily. The parties have engaged in detailed discussions regarding claims and entitlements arising from the trust structure and assets forming part of the trust corpus. The mediator has made a request to allow time for mediation till November 2, 2026, with the Court observing that mediation proceedings so far have been conducted over 6 sessions and are proceeding quite satisfactorily. The dispute centres around inheritance issues within the Sona Group family, with Rani Kapur challenging the creation and functioning of a family trust, alleging that it has deprived her of her assets. The Rs 30,000 crore worth assets of industrialist Sunjay Kapur are at the centre of this inheritance dispute. The mediation process has been assisted by a senior chartered accountant and a tax expert to facilitate the negotiations, with the Court directing that the fees of the mediator shall be paid from the RK Family Trust.
The mediation process has been assisted by a senior chartered accountant and a tax expert to facilitate the negotiations. According to the mediator's report, the parties have agreed to continue discussions under the mediator's supervision in an effort to "crystallise a holistic settlement of their claims." The Court observed that "The complexity of the financial issues warranted such assistance" and appreciated the personal participation of one of the parties represented by Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani during the mediation process. The Court also directed that the fees of the mediator shall be paid from the RK Family Trust and there should not be any further debate in this regard. However, Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Rani Kapur, informed the Court that while mediation was progressing, a dispute had arisen regarding the mediator's fees, with his client, an 80-year-old woman, unable to bear the mediation expenses. The Court ultimately directed that for the time being, the mediation fees would be borne by the RK Family Trust. The main proceedings are currently pending before the Delhi High Court, with the High Court having ordered the freezing of foreign bank accounts linked to the late industrialist, while granting interim protection over his estate.
The proceedings stem from a petition filed by Rani Kapur, who has alleged that following a stroke in 2017, her late son Sunjay Kapur and his wife, Priya Sachdev Kapur, took advantage of her medical condition and induced her to transfer assets into the family trust without her informed consent. As reported by Bar and Bench, she has claimed that she was asked to sign several documents, including blank papers, on the pretext of administrative formalities. The dispute escalated after Sunjay Kapur's death in June 12, 2025, after collapsing while participating in a polo match in England, with Rani Kapur alleging that Priya Sachdev Kapur moved to take control of key companies within the Sona Group and that she had been excluded from a substantial share of the family's assets. The 80-year-old Rani Kapur's plea alleges that the trust, which was constituted in her name in October 2017, was a product of "forged, fabricated and fraudulent" documents. Her lawsuit seeks directions to declare the family trust "null and void" and permanently restrain Priya Kapur and others from utilising the RK Family Trust in any manner. The Rs 30,000 crore worth assets of industrialist Sunjay Kapur are at the centre of this inheritance dispute.
The Supreme Court has reiterated its earlier advice to the family, urging them to approach the mediation process with an "open mind and open heart" rather than pursue years of adversarial litigation. According to Bar and Bench, the Bench reminded the family to let the mediation proceed further and wait for one more report from the learned mediator. The Court also noted that before the Supreme Court, Rani Kapur has sought an order maintaining status quo on the alienation of properties forming part of the trust, while Sunjay Kapur's children from his marriage to actor Karisma Kapoor have separately challenged the authenticity of his alleged will before the Delhi High Court. The legal proceedings over control of the estate and assets are pending before the Delhi High Court, with the High Court having ordered the freezing of foreign bank accounts linked to the late industrialist, while granting interim protection over his estate. The High Court also restrained the operation of cryptocurrency holdings and directed that the Rs 30,000 crore worth assets be preserved, while ordering status quo on Kapur's assets and restraining the creation of any third-party rights. The Court expressed optimism after reviewing the mediator's report, observing "After going through the report, we are very sure that you are all close to a happy resolution."
