Sanjay Kapoor Estate Battle: SC Warns Against Mediation Sabotage

The Supreme Court has thrown its weight behind mediation in the bitter family showdown over late businessman Sanjay Kapoor's vast estate. Ruling firmly, it prohibited any steps by feuding relatives that might jeopardize settlement talks, vowing personal oversight of the process. The dispute pits Sanjay's mother, Rani Kapoor, against his third wife Priya Sachdev Kapoor and allies. Rani contends that board meetings, like the one scheduled for May 18 by Raghuvanshi Investment Pvt Ltd, threaten family assets under the RK Family Trust. Her lawyers urged the court to halt such gatherings, arguing they violate the spirit of the mediation ordered just days earlier on May 7. Defenders of the meetings insisted they adhere strictly to legal and RBI-mandated protocols for director appointments and company management. No deviations from standard procedures were alleged, they claimed. The court rebuffed RBI's potential involvement in compliance enforcement for now. In a philosophical turn, Justice J.B. Pardiwala urged unity: 'Empty-handed we arrive, empty-handed we depart—only souls endure. Enter mediation willingly, not grudgingly.' This latest flare-up stems from Rani's petition to shield trust activities from external meddling. With significant properties at stake, the apex court's intervention aims to prevent further escalation, promoting amicable resolution in what has become a textbook case of intra-family corporate strife. Observers note this could influence how similar disputes are mediated nationwide, prioritizing dialogue over courtroom wars.