Shockwaves After Sunjay Kapur’s Death Spark ₹30,000-Crore Family Battle
The unexpected death of Sunjay Kapur during a polo match in the UK has triggered a high-stakes legal drama that now sees his mother, Rani Kapur, and wife, Priya Sachdev Kapur, in a contentious struggle over the control of an estimated ₹30,000-crore global business empire.
This dispute has placed the spotlight firmly on Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd (Sona Comstar), a key player in the automobile components sector, and has left the corporate world watching closely as a private family issue increasingly affects a publicly traded company.
Timeline of Events: From Tragedy to Turmoil
- June 12: Sunjay Kapur dies suddenly during a polo match near Windsor, UK. Reports suggest a bee flew into his mouth mid-match, possibly causing a fatal heart attack.
- June 23: The board of Sona Comstar appoints Jeffrey Mark Overly as chairman, just 11 days after Sunjay’s death.
- July 24: Rani Kapur writes to the board of directors raising serious concerns about her role and the governance of the company post-Sunjay’s passing.
- July 25: The company’s Annual General Meeting proceeds as scheduled. Despite the letter from Rani Kapur, Priya Sachdev Kapur is appointed as a non-executive director.
At the heart of this turmoil lies the control of corporate promoter Aureus Investments Private Ltd (AIPL), which holds a 28.02% stake in Sona Comstar.
Mother’s Objection: Rani Kapur Speaks Out
Rani Kapur, mother of the late Sunjay Kapur, has publicly claimed she was coerced into signing documents during a period of mourning and confusion. She says these documents were unclear and she had not been informed of their contents. In her letter to the board, she wrote:
“The family is still grieving the sudden passing of Sunjay, but some people have chosen this as an opportune time to wrest control and usurp the family legacy.”
This comment, although indirect, is widely seen as a reference to Sunjay’s wife, Priya Sachdev Kapur, who was appointed to the board the very next day.
Appointment of Priya Sachdev Kapur Raises Eyebrows
The company pushed forward with its AGM on July 25, asserting that Rani Kapur was not a registered shareholder since 2019. It cited a 2019 declaration stating that Sunjay Kapur was the sole beneficial owner of RK Family Trust, a key shareholder in AIPL, through which the Kapur family controlled its stake in Sona Comstar.
The inclusion of Priya Sachdev Kapur—a former model and actor with noted experience in business—as a non-executive director did not include a personal statement from her, leaving the public guessing her intentions and stance in this complex family dispute.
Ownership Dispute: The 2015 Will and RK Family Trust
According to Rani Kapur, a will dated June 30, 2015, asserts she is the sole beneficiary of the estate of her late husband Surinder Kapur. If proven valid, this would make her the majority shareholder across various Kapur family holdings, including those in Sona Comstar. She claims this would give her the right to weigh in on changes to the board or ownership structure.
Sona Comstar, on the other hand, maintains that all nominations to the board—including that of Priya—came via AIPL and followed proper procedures. The company also clarified:
“No documents have been signed or obtained from Rani Kapur by the company following the passing of Sunjay Kapur.”
Community Response: Watchful Silence and Corporate Concern
The silence from some quarters has been telling. Neither Priya Sachdev Kapur nor other family members have broken their silence in public. But in business circles, several investors and analysts are watching the developments closely. With Sona Comstar being a public company since June 2021—holding nearly 72% public shares—shareholders are understandably uneasy.
An unnamed institutional investor was overheard saying, “Family feuds are never good, especially when they enter the boardroom. It creates doubt, if nothing else.”
Investors appear to be treading carefully, with no significant public moves yet. But stock volatility could be a symptom of growing uncertainty if the feud deepens.
Is the Death Suspicious?
Perhaps one of the more chilling aspects of this saga is Rani Kapur’s claim that her son’s death was “highly suspicious and unexplained.”
While official reports state that Sunjay died of a heart attack—possibly triggered when a bee flew into his mouth—Rani believes the circumstances merit further scrutiny. This sentiment, while not corroborated by any formal investigation at this point, does hang over the story with a sense of unease.
Whether more concrete details surface remains unclear. For now, it’s a whispered undertone too large to ignore entirely.
What’s Next for Sona Comstar and the Kapur Legacy?
The dust is far from settled. Legal challenges over wills and trust ownership could span months or even years. Meanwhile, the boardroom dynamics at Sona Comstar may face further tension if public shareholder pressures increase.
The key questions moving forward include:
- Can Rani Kapur prove her claim to majority ownership through the disputed 2015 will?
- Will Priya Sachdev Kapur continue to hold her position on the board?
- Could regulators or courts be drawn into the ownership and succession battle?
- What are the implications for corporate governance in India when such large family-owned stakes clash on public platforms?
Sona Comstar’s future could hinge less on automotive technology and more on how this battle for control plays out behind boardroom doors and across courtrooms.
Survivors and Legacy
Sunjay Kapur is survived by:
- His wife, Priya Sachdev Kapur
- His mother, Rani Kapur
- Children Samaira and Kiaan (from his previous marriage to Karisma Kapoor)
- Son Azarias (with Priya)
- Sisters Mandhira Kapur Smith and Superna Kapur Motwane
With a Forbes-estimated net worth of over ₹10,000 crore at the time of his death, the legacy of Sunjay Kapur now stands at a precarious intersection—between grief, unsolved questions, and the stark realities of succession.
