Sunjay Kapur inheritance row: Priya Sachdev files criminal defamation case against Mandhira Kapur Smith amid estate dispute

In a fresh escalation of the ongoing legal battle over late businessman Sunjay Kapur’s estate, his widow Priya Sachdev Kapur has filed a criminal defamation complaint against Sunjay’s sister, Mandhira Kapur Smith, and another individual.As per news agency ANI, the complaint alleges that defamatory statements were made against Priya across digital platforms, causing serious reputational harm.The complaint, filed before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, states that the impugned remarks contain “false assertions, insinuations and personal attacks presented as established facts,” despite the issues being sub judice.It further claims that the statements were aimed at maligning and harassing Priya Kapur through public discourse instead of lawful legal remedies.Senior advocate Maninder Singh, along with counsel Smriti Asmita, is representing Priya in the matter.The matter was taken up on Saturday before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate at the Patiala House Courts in New Delhi, where the complaint was formally registered.The criminal defamation case comes even as the Supreme Court, on Friday, sought actor Karisma Kapoor’s response to Priya’s plea seeking a certified copy of Sunjay Kapur’s divorce settlement with Karisma.Sunjay’s sister, Mandhira Kapur Smith, has opposed the plea, alleging that it was an attempt to divert attention from the core inheritance dispute.Sunjay Kapur was the chairman of Sona Comstar. He married Karisma Kapoor in 2003, and the couple had two children—Samaira, born in 2005, and Kiaan, born in 2011. The couple filed for divorce in 2014, which was finalised in 2016.After the separation, Sunjay married Priya Sachdev, and the couple later welcomed a son, Azarias.The inheritance battle remains pending before multiple courts. In August last year, Priya presented a document before the Delhi High Court claiming it to be Sunjay Kapur’s will. The document was challenged by Samaira, Kiaan and Rani.While some reports have claimed that Sunjay Kapur’s assets could be worth around Rs 30,000 crore, Karisma Kapoor’s children have said they are unaware of the estate’s actual valuation.