The Supreme Court of India has suggested that parties involved in an inheritance dispute concerning the Sona Group family trust should consider mediation to avoid prolonged litigation. In a case titled Rani Kapur vs Priya Sachdev Kapur, a Bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Vijay Bishnoi issued notice on a plea filed by Rani Kapur. The plea seeks responses from Priya Sachdev Kapur and 22 others.
During the hearing, the Bench questioned the necessity of continuing the legal battle and emphasized the petitioner’s age. The judges remarked, “Why are you all fighting? This is not the age for your client to fight… go for mediation once and for all, from A to Z. Otherwise, this is a waste.” They further pointed out that at 80 years old, it is not the time for the petitioner to engage in a lengthy courtroom battle.
The Bench emphasized that an amicable resolution would be beneficial for all parties involved and stated that they would hear the case on its merits only if mediation efforts fail. The matter is set to be listed again next week.
At the heart of the dispute is a challenge to the validity of the Rani Kapur Family Trust filed by Rani Kapur. She alleges that the trust was established fraudulently, leading to her loss of control over her estate, including interests in Sona Group companies. Rani Kapur claims that after suffering a stroke in 2017, her late son and his wife took advantage of her condition, transferring assets to the trust without her consent.
The conflict escalated after Sunjay Kapur’s death last year, with Rani Kapur accusing Priya Kapur of taking control of key Sona Group entities and consolidating a significant portion of the family’s wealth with herself and her children.
Parallel proceedings related to the estate are already ongoing in the Delhi High Court. The current plea in the Supreme Court seeks to maintain the status quo on asset transfers linked to the trust and to prevent interference with the estate.
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, with assistance from Senior Advocate Vaibhav Gaggar and Advocate-on-Record Smriti Churiwal, argued for Rani Kapur in court. Other representatives including Senior Advocate Madhavi Divan and Senior Advocate Naveen Pahwa also supported the plea, emphasizing the need for early protective relief in disputes involving large estates.
The Bench reiterated the value of mediation in providing a practical and fair solution to the dispute, while also keeping open the option of adjudication if necessary.
[Context: Inheritance dispute involving the Sona Group family trust; mediation suggested by the Supreme Court to avoid prolonged litigation. Fact Check: The article was published on April 28, 2026.]
