The battle for the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s ₹30,000 crore estate has escalated into a public and personal war of words. Mandhira Kapur Smith, Sunjay’s sister, has broken her silence after her sister-in-law Priya Kapur filed a criminal defamation case against her.
The dispute follows the sudden death of Sunjay Kapur in June 2025 at age 53, reportedly due to anaphylactic shock from a bee sting during a polo match in the UK.
The Defamation Case: Allegations & Reaction
On Saturday, January 17, 2026, Priya Kapur filed a complaint at New Delhi’s Patiala House Courts. She alleges that Mandhira has conducted a “sustained campaign” to demolish her reputation through YouTube videos and social media posts.
- Priya’s Allegations: Mandhira allegedly insinuated that Priya’s marriage to Sunjay was “troubled, manipulative, and undeserving of legitimacy.”
- Mandhira’s Defense: In an exclusive interview, Mandhira retorted, “I can guarantee I’ve lied about nothing.” She claims her statements are backed by what has already been mentioned in court proceedings and views the lawsuit as a “tactic to distract” from the inheritance fight.
The ₹30,000 Crore Estate Battle
At the heart of the conflict is a will dated March 21, 2025, which allegedly leaves the bulk of Sunjay’s wealth—including interests in Sona Comstar—to Priya.
| Party | Stance / Allegation |
| Priya Kapur (Widow) | Maintains the will is valid and she is the rightful legal heir. |
| Karisma Kapoor’s Children | Samaira and Kiaan allege the will is “forged and fabricated.” They claim metadata shows inconsistencies and that digital location data places Priya in Delhi on the day she claimed to be in Gurugram to sign the document. |
| Mandhira & Rani Kapur | Mandhira’s mother, Rani, claims the assets were built by her and her late husband, Surinder Kapoor, and should return to the original family line. |
The Karisma Kapoor Connection
The legal drama has dragged Sunjay’s past into the present. On January 16, 2026, the Supreme Court issued a notice to actor Karisma Kapoor after Priya filed a plea seeking certified copies of Karisma and Sunjay’s 2016 divorce papers.
- Priya’s Goal: She wants to verify financial settlements and child custody arrangements to see if the claims now being made by Karisma’s children were already settled years ago.
- Karisma’s Response: Her legal team has labeled the move “frivolous” and an attempt to dig into private personal information.
- Mandhira’s Stand: Mandhira supports Karisma, stating, “A divorce is confidential… it is none of [Priya’s] business.”
What’s Next?
- January 21, 2026: Priya Kapur is scheduled to appear before the court for the recording of pre-summoning evidence in her defamation case.
- Late January 2026: Karisma Kapoor is expected to file her response in the Supreme Court regarding the access to divorce documents.