Ashhar Alam | New Delhi

The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued summons to Priya Kapur and 22 other defendants in a civil suit filed by Rani Kapur, who has challenged the validity of the Rani Kapur Family Trust, an entity claimed to be worth several thousand crore rupees.

While allowing the suit to proceed, the Court declined to grant any immediate interim relief, including a status quo order on the trust’s assets. A single-judge Bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna clarified that, at this stage, it was only issuing summons in the main suit and notices in the connected interim applications.

Observing that the trust was not a recently constituted entity, the Court said the prayers for interim relief would be examined only after hearing all parties. The defendants have been directed to file their replies within four weeks, following which the interim pleas will be taken up for consideration.

Appearing for Rani Kapur, Senior Advocate Vaibhav Gaggar outlined the background of the dispute, tracing developments after the death of industrialist Sunjay Kapur in June last year. He alleged that soon after Sunjay Kapur’s demise, Priya Kapur moved to assume control over the family’s assets and is now the beneficiary of nearly 60 per cent of the estate, with the remaining portion going to the children, effectively excluding the plaintiff.

Gaggar argued that it was implausible for Rani Kapur to have voluntarily divested herself of her entire estate by executing a trust within months of her son’s marriage. He maintained that she had been the sole settlor, trustee and beneficiary of earlier family trusts, and that the impugned trust was created without her informed consent. He further alleged that the signatures attributed to her on the trust documents were forged, stressing that the estate required urgent judicial protection.

Rani Kapur with son Late Sanjay Kapur and daughter-in-law, Priya Kapur

Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, representing Priya Kapur, rejected the allegations, calling them “entirely false”. He questioned the maintainability of the suit and said a formal application would be filed seeking its dismissal. “A trustee cannot challenge the trust in law,” Sibal submitted, adding that videographic evidence of the execution and notarisation of the documents, including signatures, would be placed before the Court. He also opposed any interim relief at this preliminary stage.

Counsel for other defendants echoed objections on maintainability and the inclusion of multiple parties. The Court, however, observed that all relevant materials, including trust deeds, meeting minutes and financial records would have to be disclosed, and that no facts could be withheld from judicial scrutiny.

Advocate Saakaar Sardana, appearing for Rani Kapur’s grandchildren the children of her daughter Mandhira Kapur Smith told the Court that they were beneficiaries under an earlier registered family trust but had since been deprived of their inheritance. He said the grandchildren were supporting their grandmother’s case to safeguard their rights.

After hearing all sides, the Bench directed that the plaint be formally registered as a suit, summons be issued to all defendants, and notices be issued in the connected interim applications, including those seeking disclosure of documents. The Court also appointed actor Karisma Kapoor as the “next friend” of minor defendants Samaira and Kiaan Kapur.

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The matter will be taken up after pleadings are completed, when the Court will consider the request for interim relief, including the plea to maintain status quo over the trust.

Rani Kapur has alleged that the RK Family Trust was created through misrepresentation, undue influence and without her informed consent, at a time when she was recovering from a stroke and dependent on her son for managing her personal and financial affairs. Through the suit, she has sought cancellation of the trust and restoration of her estate, claiming she was assured her assets remained under her control even as steps were allegedly taken to strip her of ownership.