Personality Rights, Jane Street, Sunjay Kapur’s Family Feud and More

“The value of mediation lies in three things – empathy, dignity and creativity.” 
— Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant while speaking at a book launch

A billionaire’s untimely death and a family feud unfolding in the courts
Sona Comstar chairman and a billionaire Sunjay Kapur’s untimely death earlier this year was shocking to say the least. The same cannot be said by the inheritance-related family feud that followed with commentators saying that it was only a matter of time before the courts were reached to settle ₹300 billion worth of estate.

Sunjay’s children with his second wife and Bollywood actor Karisma Kapur have approached the Delhi High Court with an allegation against his third wife and widow Priya Sachdeva Kapur. The children’s lawsuit claims that Priya has forged Sunjay’s Will and is attempting to take control of his entire estate. 

A heated and dramatic court hearing on the suit, complete with ugly remarks exchanged by lawyers followed. Needless to say, that this family drama is going to be closely watched, not just by business and law observers but by the general public also.

After all, a vast fortune, a convoluted family tree, a touch of Bollywood presence and allegations of impropriety and suspicions make for a very intriguing story which is now ready to be unfolded in the courtroom. 

The Week That Was
Key Rulings:

• Supreme Court holds real estate insolvencies to be dealt with on a project-to-project basis and not against the entire company Courts:
• Supreme Court transfers all petitions challenging the new law against online gaming platforms from various high courts to itself
• A high-powered panel set up by the Supreme Court submits its report in a sealed cover on the probe into allegations against Anant Ambani’s Vantara project
• The Delhi High Court grants interim relief to Bollywood actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her husband Abhishek to protect their personality rights against unauthorised use
• Supreme Court concludes hearing on the Presidential reference against the top court ruling setting out timelines for President and Governors to grant assent to bills
• Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid move Supreme Court seeking bail after Delhi High Court dismissed their bail pleas in relation to Delhi riots of 2020 case
• Deceased billionaire Sunjay Kapur’s will comes into question before the Delhi High Court; actor Karisma Kapoor’s children sue Sunjay kapur’s widow Priya Sachdeva Kapur on accusations of forging his will and seeking to take control of his assets; the court seeks list of all assets owned by the deceased 
• A trial court in Delhi restrains several journalists from publishing articles allegedly defamatory to Adani enterprises, asks them to take down defamatory material

Quasi Courts 

• Securities Appellate Tribunal admits plea by US trading firm Jane Street challenging SEBI’s move to withhold certain documents from the firm in the probe against it

Others

• The Delhi and Bombay high courts receive bomb threats prompting both the premises to be vacated and screened; the threats ultimately turned out to be hoax

The Big Listings:

• Sep 15: Supreme Court to hear the PIL petition that makes several allegations against Ambanis’ Vantara project
• Sep 15: Supreme Court to rule on the petitions against the Waqf Amendment Act
• Sep 17: NCLT in Ahmedabad to hear petition for Vedanta’s demerge
• Oct 9: Delhi High Court to hear partition suit filed in relation to Sunjay Kapur’s Will
• Nov 18: Securities Appellate Tribunal to hear appeal by Jane Street challenging SEBI’s move to allegedly refuse access to important documents to the firm in the case against it

 * The dates of hearing can change and a concrete list is prepared just a day before

Legal Moves: 

• Justice M Sundar appointed chief justice of Manipur High Court