India’s Supreme Court on Monday announced that Rani Kapur, mother of late businessman Sanjay Kapur, his family, children and widow Priya Sachdev Kapur in connection with the Rs 30 billion real estate case. While seeking answers from Priya and 22 others, the court also said that mediation would be a more appropriate way to resolve the case, as “80 is not the age to fight Rani Kapur”. Rani Kapur has now reacted to the judge’s observation. He has expressed his willingness to solve the problem amicably. In an interview to Hindustan Times, he said, “I welcome the Supreme Court’s observations and push for a peaceful solution. At this stage in my life, I seek nothing but truth, dignity and protection of what is mine and my family’s. I remain ready to participate in any fair and transparent mediation process, I trust that the courts will ensure justice on the merits.“He further clarified his stance, “This has never been about conflict. It’s about restoring justice, preserving the family legacy and making sure no one gets ripped off through fraud or misplaced trust.”A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Vijay Bishnoi heard the case and questioned the long legal battle. Addressing Rani’s counsel, the bench said, “Why are you fighting? You are 80 years old. This is not the age for your client to fight.” The court strongly encouraged mediation, adding: “Go to mediation for once, A to Z. Otherwise, this is a waste.” At the same time, if the mediation does not provide a resolution, he left open the possibility of re-examining the matter.In her petition, Rani Kapur sought directions to prevent the respondents from interfering with the estate, assets and related matters. It also challenged certain orders of the Delhi High Court, arguing that the assets were not adequately protected and raising concerns about possible disappearance of the assets.The roots of the dispute lie in a lawsuit filed by Rani, in which she opposed the formation of the Rani Kapur Family Trust. That the structure of the trust effectively stripped him of control over his assets, including his stake in the Sona Group. In addition, after he suffered a stroke in 2017, he claimed that his son and others acted in a manner that resulted in the transfer of assets without his full knowledge or consent.For those who don’t know, this dispute started after Sunjay Kapur’s death in June last year. Apart from Rani Kapur Vs Priya Kapur, there is also a legal battle between Priya and Sunjay’s children with ex-wife Karisma Kapoor.
