Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The onus of disproving suspicions about the legitimacy of late businessman Sunjay Kapur’s purported will lies on his wife Priya Kapur, Delhi high court said Thursday, directing that his Rs 30,000-crore estate be frozen until all doubts are settled, reports. “The legitimate suspicious circumstances raised by the plaintiffs will have to be completely removed by defendant number one (Priya Kapur) before the document is accepted as the last will,” Justice Jyoti Singh said.She said the plaintiffs had “made out a prima facie case the assets need to be protected and preserved pending disposal of the suit”.Priya’s claims citing the will have been challenged by Sunjay’s children from his previous marriage to actor Karisma Kapoor.If the assets aren’t preserved and Priya ultimately fails to prove the will’s validity, Sunjay and Karisma’s children Samaira and Kiaan, besides his mother Rani Kapur, would be deprived of their legitimate share of the estate, the judge said.The interim order freezes equity shareholdings in three Indian companies held by the deceased and restrains disposal of his personal effects, including artwork.Priya has been barred from drawing from her late husband’s provident fund or touching funds in his Indian bank accounts unless the withdrawals are to meet Sunjay’s obligations related to his divorce from Karisma. The court also barred her from operating foreign bank accounts and cryptocurrency assets.The order isn’t binding on Sunjay’s immovable foreign assets. Priya’s legal team had argued that these were out of HC’s purview on jurisdictional grounds.Sunjay died on July 12 last year after collapsing during a polo match in England. He suffered a cardiac arrest after reportedly ingesting a live bee.
