A long-running property dispute connected to late actress Sridevi has reached the Supreme Court, bringing her husband Boney Kapoor and daughters Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor into a fresh round of legal proceedings.
On September 16, the Supreme Court issued notices to Boney Kapoor, Janhvi and Khushi after a petition was filed challenging an earlier Madras High Court decision in the matter. A bench comprising Justices KV Viswanathan and Arun Pillai also directed the parties to maintain status quo concerning the disputed property until the next hearing.
The court has also suggested mediation as a possible way to resolve the dispute.
The next hearing has been scheduled for December 18.
Importantly, the Supreme Court has not ruled on the final ownership of the property. The latest order simply means that the existing position concerning the land must be maintained while the legal challenge is considered.
What Is the Sridevi Property Dispute About?
The case concerns land located along East Coast Road in Chennai, in the Sholinganallur area.
Current reports describe the disputed portion as approximately 2.7 acres, while the wider chain of transactions involves a larger parcel of around 4.7 acres. The property was acquired by Sridevi and her sister through sale deeds executed in 1988.
The dispute was brought by MC Sivakami and MC Natarajan, who claim that they have rights in the property through their family lineage.
According to the petitioners, the land originally belonged to their paternal grandfather. They have challenged the validity of four sale deeds through which the property was acquired, alleging that the transactions were fraudulent and seeking recognition of their claimed share.
The Kapoor family has contested those claims.
Why Did the Matter Reach the Supreme Court?
The latest Supreme Court proceedings stem from an earlier decision by the Madras High Court.
Boney Kapoor and his daughters had challenged the continuation of the property suit before the High Court. Their side argued, among other things, that the petitioners had failed to disclose important facts about previous litigation and family circumstances.
The High Court ultimately rejected the suit.
One of the major issues was the age of the property documents. The relevant sale deeds date back to 1988, but the challenge was brought decades later. The High Court questioned the claim that the petitioners became aware of those transactions only in 2023.
The High Court also considered questions relating to the petitioners' legal-heir status and earlier proceedings concerning the property.
It eventually concluded that the claim was barred by limitation and allowed the Kapoor family's plea seeking rejection of the plaint.
What Are the Petitioners Claiming?
The petitioners' case is that they have a legitimate interest in the Chennai property because of their family connection to the land.
They have sought to challenge the sale deeds under which Sridevi and her sister acquired the property. Their position is that the land formed part of property belonging to their family and that they were entitled to a share.
The petitioners approached the Supreme Court after the Madras High Court rejected their case.
The Supreme Court has now agreed to hear their challenge at this stage by issuing notices to Boney Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor.
However, issuing a notice does not mean the Supreme Court has accepted the petitioners' allegations or ruled against the Kapoor family. It simply requires the respondents to respond to the legal challenge.
What Does the Status Quo Order Mean?
The Supreme Court's direction to maintain status quo is one of the most important developments in the case.
Until the next hearing, the parties are required to maintain the existing position concerning the disputed property. Reports indicate that the order prevents changes involving matters such as transfer, construction or possession while the proceedings remain pending.
This does not amount to a final determination of who owns the property.
Instead, the order protects the disputed asset while the Supreme Court examines the challenge to the High Court's decision.
Court Suggests Mediation
Along with issuing notices, the Supreme Court has suggested that the parties explore mediation to settle the dispute.
Mediation can provide the parties with an opportunity to negotiate a settlement without taking the litigation through every stage of a prolonged court battle.
Whether the parties agree to mediation and whether it results in a settlement remains to be seen.
For now, the Supreme Court proceedings will continue, with the respondents expected to respond to the petition.
The Property Deal Dates Back to 1988
One reason the case has attracted attention is the considerable amount of time involved.
The disputed sale deeds were executed in 1988, meaning the property transaction at the centre of the litigation is nearly four decades old. The delay in challenging those documents became an important part of the Madras High Court's reasoning when it rejected the suit.
The petitioners, however, are now asking the Supreme Court to reconsider the High Court's decision.
The apex court's latest order means the legal questions surrounding the property are still alive.
Why Janhvi and Khushi Are Part of the Case
Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor are involved in the proceedings because they are daughters of Sridevi and Boney Kapoor and are respondents alongside their father in the property matter.
Their inclusion in the Supreme Court notice does not mean either has been accused of wrongdoing. The case concerns the legal dispute over the property and the challenge to the earlier court ruling.
The Supreme Court will now consider the submissions from both sides before deciding how the matter should proceed.
What Happens Next?
The next significant date is December 18, 2026, when the matter is scheduled to come up again. Until then, the status quo order remains in place.
The Kapoor family will have an opportunity to respond to the petition, while the petitioners will seek to establish why the earlier Madras High Court decision should be reconsidered.
For now, there is no final Supreme Court verdict on ownership of the Chennai property.
The latest development has simply reopened a decades-old legal dispute involving property once associated with Sridevi and her family. With the Supreme Court now examining the challenge, the case will continue to be closely watched in the coming months.
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