Delhi HC restrains Priya Kapur and Mandhira Kapur Smith from public statements in defamation row

The Delhi High Court has directed Priya Kapur, widow of late businessman Sunjay Kapur, and his sister Mandhira Kapur Smith to refrain from making public statements against each other amid an escalating defamation dispute. The court issued the interim direction while hearing a civil defamation suit filed by Priya Kapur and listed the matter for further hearing on May 14.

A bench led by Justice Mini Pushkarna issued summons in the suit and asked Mandhira Kapur Smith to file her response within five weeks to Priya Kapur’s plea seeking interim relief. The court made it clear that both parties must avoid aggravating the conflict in the public domain while the matter remains under adjudication. “We expect you not to make any public statements against each other… Conduct yourself with dignity,” the court observed.

The defamation suit stems from comments allegedly made by Mandhira Kapur Smith during appearances on a podcast series aired in November and December 2025. Priya Kapur has claimed that insinuations were made about her marriage to Sunjay Kapur and that such remarks were amplified through social media posts and videos. The podcast host has also been named as a party in the case.

In her plea, Priya Kapur has sought an injunction restraining further allegedly defamatory statements and claimed damages of ₹20 crore, citing reputational harm, mental agony and emotional distress. Her counsel argued before the court that the remarks amounted to a targeted campaign to malign and socially discredit her following Sunjay Kapur’s death.

Senior counsel appearing for Mandhira Kapur Smith contended that she too had been subjected to public vilification amid intense media scrutiny. Apart from the civil proceedings before the High Court, a criminal defamation complaint filed by Priya Kapur is also pending before a Delhi court.