India’s Multi-Crore Inheritance Battles: From Ambani and Modi to the Kapur Feud
India’s corporate landscape has witnessed yet another high-profile inheritance clash — this time involving the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s family. His mother, Rani Kapur, has alleged an attempt by “certain individuals” — implicitly her daughter-in-law Priya Sachdev Kapur — to take control of the ₹30,000-crore Sona Group business empire.
In a letter sent ahead of the company’s annual general meeting, Rani Kapur claimed she was locked in a room and forced to sign documents without proper explanation. She said she was not informed about Priya’s appointment as a non-executive board director, despite being the majority shareholder. However, the company responded by stating that Rani Kapur has not held any shares since 2019. Priya Sachdev Kapur is yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
Regardless of the truth, this dispute now joins a long list of intra-family feuds over vast fortunes — often triggered by the death of a family patriarch.
Modi Family Dispute: A ₹11,000-Crore Legacy in Limbo
Following the 2019 death of Krishan Kumar Modi, his family has been embroiled in a bitter legal battle over an inheritance estimated at over ₹11,000 crore. According to his will, the wealth was to be divided equally among his wife Bina, sons Samir and Lalit, and daughter Charu.
However, tensions flared in February 2024 when Samir Modi accused his mother of mismanaging family trusts and violating the will’s terms. Initially siding with their mother, Samir and Charu later broke ranks, leading to a family standoff: Samir and Lalit on one side, and Bina backed by key shareholders on the other. While the public drama has subsided, the underlying conflict remains unresolved, with neither Samir nor Lalit relinquishing their stakes.
Oberoi Dynasty Drama: A Tale of Two Wills
The death of iconic hotelier Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi in 2023 triggered a conflict involving his children from two marriages. His daughter Anastasia Oberoi from his second marriage supported a 2022 codicil to his will that allocated properties and assets to her and her mother. Meanwhile, her stepsiblings Vikramjit, Natasha, and cousin Arjun backed an older 1992 will that excluded Anastasia.
The family dispute led to a legal challenge in the Delhi High Court. Although tensions appeared to ease after a family meeting and AGM later that year, the inheritance debate remains far from settled.
Bajaj Family: A Rare Amicable Separation
Unlike other family battles, the Bajaj family managed its succession with minimal controversy. After industrialist Rahul Bajaj passed away in 2022, his sons Rajiv and Sanjiv had differing visions for the company’s future. Rather than engaging in a power struggle, they opted for a peaceful restructuring. Rajiv took the reins of Bajaj Auto, while Sanjiv focused on Bajaj Finserv, ensuring both businesses thrived independently.
Ambani Brothers: The Most Famous Corporate Rift
India’s most iconic business family dispute erupted after the death of Reliance Group founder Dhirubhai Ambani in 2002, who left no will. His sons, Mukesh and Anil Ambani, clashed over control of the conglomerate. Their mother, Kokilaben, eventually mediated, dividing the company between them. Yet, their rivalry persisted publicly for years, with both brothers competing for contracts, assets, and influence across industries.
Conclusion:
Whether settled quietly or dragged through courts, inheritance wars remain a recurring theme in India’s business dynasties. As the Kapur family saga unfolds, it adds another chapter to a long-running narrative of ambition, legacy, and family conflict.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
