The passing of a close friend of Prince William during a polo match due to a bee sting has triggered a contentious inheritance dispute worth £2.7 billion, with the deceased’s family suspecting foul play.
Sunjay Kapur, a 53-year-old businessman from Delhi, tragically collapsed and died from a heart attack after reportedly swallowing a bee while playing polo in Surrey. Kapur, who was set to inherit the automotive components empire Sona Comstar founded by his father, was well-known in India’s elite circles for his connections to British royalty and the prestigious polo community. His personal life was equally publicized, having been married three times to prominent figures.
Following Kapur’s untimely demise, a bitter battle for control of the family company emerged between his mother, Rani Kapur, and the board of directors of Sona Comstar. Allegations of suspicious circumstances surrounding Kapur’s death were raised by Mrs. Kapur, accusing the board of exploiting the situation to gain control of the business. She claimed to have been coerced into signing documents under emotional duress and being sidelined from financial decisions despite her late husband purportedly designating her as the primary beneficiary and majority shareholder.
In response, the company refuted Mrs. Kapur’s assertions, stating she had not been a shareholder since 2019, contradicting her claims of majority ownership through her husband’s will. The tension escalated when the official coroner’s report confirmed Kapur’s death as natural causes, citing underlying heart conditions, which contradicted Mrs. Kapur’s demand for an investigation into the circumstances of his passing.
The family rift extended to Kapur’s sister, Mandhira, who reconciled publicly with her mother amidst the upheaval. Mrs. Kapur, backed by legal representation, alleged a conspiracy to wrest control of the family legacy and called for a thorough examination of her son’s death.
The inheritance dispute at Sona Comstar highlights broader issues around succession planning in Indian family businesses, with many facing challenges in transitioning control smoothly. The Kapur family’s ordeal echoes past high-profile conflicts in Indian corporate history, underscoring the complexities of managing generational transitions in family-run enterprises.
The loss of Sunjay Kapur not only marks a leadership vacuum within the company but also exposes deep divisions within a family once united by a formidable industrial legacy.