The legal drama surrounding the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s estate just got more intense. His widow, Priya Sachdev Kapur, has now approached the Delhi High Court with a ₹20 crore civil defamation suit against her sister-in-law, Mandhira Kapur Smith, and podcast host Pooja Chaudhri.
Priya claims certain statements made in a podcast — and later amplified across social media — have seriously harmed her reputation and caused emotional distress.
What Priya Is Alleging
In her suit filed before the Delhi High Court, Priya has sought ₹20 crore in damages for alleged loss of reputation, mental agony, and social humiliation.
According to court documents, she argues that remarks made during an episode of the podcast InControversial with Pooja Chaudhri were defamatory in nature. She also claims the content was widely circulated, republished, and discussed on digital platforms, multiplying its impact.
Along with monetary compensation, Priya has requested the court to:
- Restrain Mandhira and the podcast host from publishing or circulating any further allegedly defamatory material.
- Direct them to remove existing content from digital and social media platforms.
In addition to this civil action, Priya has reportedly filed a criminal defamation complaint against Mandhira and another individual.
The Estate Dispute in the Background
This defamation suit is unfolding amid an already complicated inheritance battle.
Sunjay Kapur, a billionaire businessman, passed away in London in June 2025. In August, actor Karisma Kapoor — who was married to him from 2003 to 2016 — filed a lawsuit on behalf of her two children, Kiaan Raj and Samara.
The suit alleges that Priya fabricated Sunjay’s will and excluded the children from their rightful inheritance.
Priya, who married Sunjay in 2017 and shares a son with him, has denied wrongdoing. Sunjay’s mother, Rani Kapur, is also reportedly a plaintiff in the separate estate dispute.
The Podcast Controversy
The defamation case stems from Mandhira’s appearance on Pooja Chaudhri’s podcast, where she allegedly made statements about Priya that the latter considers damaging and derogatory.
Priya’s legal team argues that the remarks went beyond personal opinion and entered the realm of defamation, especially given their widespread digital circulation.
What Happens Next?
The Delhi High Court will now examine whether the statements in question meet the legal threshold for defamation and whether interim relief — including takedown orders — should be granted.
Final Words:
This isn’t just a family disagreement anymore — it’s now a multi-layered legal battle involving inheritance claims, civil and criminal defamation suits, and public allegations playing out across courts and digital platforms. With emotions high and reputations at stake, the coming hearings could shape both the estate dispute and the defamation claims in a big way.
