New Delhi: The sudden death of Sunjay Kapur, chairman of the auto parts giant Sona BLW Precision Forgings (better known as Sona Comstar), has rocked both the business world and his own family. With a ₹30,000-crore company on the line, tensions are running high, and the future of the Kapur family is now full of uncertainty.
A tragedy followed by a family feud:
Sunjay Kapur passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on June 12, 2025, while playing polo in England, his death came as a huge shock, not just to the business community but also to Bollywood circles, given the family’s high-profile connections.
But just days after his passing, a serious family conflict broke out in public. At the center of it is a dispute between Sunjay’s mother, Rani Kapur, and his wife, Priya Sachdev Kapur. The fight is over who should control the family’s large stake and say in Sona Comsta, a battle that has made a tough time even more difficult for everyone involved.
The legacy dispute:
Rani Kapur claims she should be the rightful voice of the family within the company. According to her, a 2015 will from her late husband Dr. Surinder Kapur named her as the sole beneficiary. Based on this, she argues that she should have the final say in matters related to the family’s legacy and ownership in the company.
But company records tell a different story. Since 2019, Sunjay Kapur was listed as the sole beneficial owner of the RK Family Trust. This trust owns 28.02% of Sona Comstar, while the remaining 71.98% is held by public shareholders. That setup makes the promoter trust incredibly influential, but not all-powerful, thanks to the company’s strong public ownership.
The real drama began after Sunjay’s death. Rani Kapur alleges she was pressured into signing legal papers without full understanding, and that she was pushed out of critical decisions, including the appointment of Priya Sachdev Kapur to the company’s board.
She claims she never approved of her daughter-in-law’s nomination and believes this move was rushed through while the family was still grieving. In letters to the board and SEBI (India’s securities regulator), Rani voiced her concerns and called for a delay in the company’s AGM.
Sona Comstar’s management has dismissed these claims. They state that Rani Kapur has not been a shareholder since 2019 and therefore has no legal ground to demand changes. The company explained that Priya’s appointment as Non-Executive Director was made by the promoter entity Aureus Investments Pvt Ltd and was approved by 99.44% of shareholders during the July 2025 AGM.
A company spokesperson said no documents were taken from Rani after Sunjay’s death, and all actions were handled according to legal and ethical standards.
The company has issued a clarification regarding the news article that has been circulating today.
The company has issued a clarification regarding the news article that has been circulating today. pic.twitter.com/tUjXSnq7yI
— Sona Comstar (@sonacomstar) July 25, 2025
Who is Priya Sachdev Kapur?
Priya, Sunjay’s wife, is not new to business, she has experience in investment banking, luxury retail, and entrepreneurship, despite all of these she had also been involved in the family’s investment arm before joining the board. Her appointment is seen by some as a way to keep the family actively involved in the company’s future, especially during such a sensitive transition period.
What’s Next?
Rani Kapur seems determined to fight on, she may take legal steps to assert her rights, potentially dragging this conflict into a long court battle. As per reports, the Legal experts say disputes that involves family trusts and thus the succession can get complicated and emotional, particularly when business and personal legacies are tied together.
For now, the company continues to run smoothly under its new leadership, Jeffrey Mark Overly is now the Chairman, with Priya Kapur on the board and a majority of shares in public hands. That structure may provide some stability while the family works through their issues.
