Priya Kapur behaving like 'Cinderella's stepmom', Karisma's children tell HC

NEW DELHI: In the murky inheritance battle being fought over Sunjay Kapur 's assets, a dramatic fairytale reference was made in Delhi high court when his wife Priya Kapur was accused of being "greedy" and behaving like " Cinderella's stepmother " by the late businessman's children from ex-wife Karisma Kapoor on Thursday. The two have alleged that Priya usurped their father's assets by presenting a forged will .

During the hearing of a suit challenging division of Sunjay's assets, reportedly worth Rs 30,000 crore, senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani , appearing for Samaira and Kiaan Raj, said: "She (Priya) has made these children the cynosure of every kidnapper's dream. She has put them in danger by disclosing how much they get from the assets. Who is really greedy? She is getting 60% of the assets and 75% of the trust. She is no benign stepmother but Cinderella's stepmom."

Jethmalani alleged before a bench of Justice Jyoti Singh that Priya was in a "glaring hurry" to restrict the children's share, and carried out a "clumsy forgery" of the will. He claimed there was "enough evidence" to probe the forgery, and sought a status quo on the movement of Sunjay's assets. "She (Priya) is a nominee, and she holds the assets. How far the forgery of documents goes will have to be unravelled - there is enough evidence to conduct a probe," he added.

Questioning the authenticity of the will presented by Priya, Jethmalani further claimed that Sunjay did not consult a lawyer while making it. "Sunjay's digital footprints are nowhere; the digital footprints are there of the conspirators to a serious crime, which is forgery of a will," the senior lawyer argued, pointing out that the will's executor got it just one day before its reading.

He alleged that the will was modified when Sunjay was on a holiday with his son, adding that those who forged the document got rewarded.

HC will resume hearing the matter on Oct 13. The court last month asked Priya to furnish a list of his assets and allowed her to file it in a sealed cover, even as she questioned the claim filed by the two children. Priya disclosed they had already received Rs 1,900 crore from the family trust. "What more do they want?" her counsel asked.