Delhi court seeks Mandhira Kapur Smith's reply to criminal defamation case filed by sister-in-law Priya Kapur

A Delhi court on Wednesday issued notice to Mandhira Kapur Smith, the sister of late industrialist Sunjay Kapur, on a criminal defamation case filed by Sunjay's widow Priya Kapur.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Siddhant Sihag of the Patiala House Courts also issued notice to Pooja Chaudhari, the host of a podcast called InControversial, in which Mandhira Kapur made the alleged defamatory statements.

The Court ordered Kapur and Chaudhary to appear before it on March 12.

Judge Sihag passed the order after recording Priya Kapur and two witnesses' statements in the case. The proceedings were held in-camera.

Priya Kapur is engaged in a legal battle against Mandhira Kapur and other members of Sunjay Kapur's family, including his second wife, actor Karisma Kapoor, over the control of Sunjay's assets.

The criminal defamation case before the Patiala House Court has been filed over statements made by Mandhira Kapur on social media platforms and in the InControversial podcast.

In her complaint, Priya Kapur has argued that Mandhira Kapur repeatedly uploaded and circulated videos and posts on YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter) and other platforms, which identify Priya Kapur by name and made "false allegations and accusatory insinuations designed to cause hatred, ridicule and social ostracism; thereby demolishing the reputation of the complainant in the eyes of the general public and in business circles".

Further, the complaint states that in the podcast, Mandhira made repeated insinuations that Priya's marriage with Sunjay was troubled, manipulative and undeserving of legitimacy.

The plea adds that such remarks directly attack the sanctity of her [Priya's] marital relationship and lower her dignity as a wife and now a widow in the eyes of society.

"Such imputations strike at the very foundation of the Complainant’s honour, womanhood and social standing, and are therefore per se defamatory within the meaning of Section 356 BNS," the plea said.

Senior Advocate Maninder Singh appeared for Priya Kapur. The defamation case was filed through advocate Smriti Asmita.