There has been a new twist in the property dispute involving the Kalyani family. A legal battle is going on between Bharat Forge Group chairman Baba Kalyani and his siblings over property. On one hand, while there is a fight between Baba Kalyani (75 years) and Gaurishankar Kalyani (69 years) over property division, on the other hand, the children of Baba and Gaurishankar’s sister Sugandha Hiremath are also adamant on demanding one-ninth share in the will.
Now a new dispute has arisen between Baba Kalyani and his younger brother Gaurishankar Kalyani regarding the will of their late mother Sulochana Kalyani. In fact, Baba Kalyani has demanded the Pune Civil Court to authenticate the will of his late mother Sulochana Neelkanth Kalyani dated 27 January 2012.
Against this, Gaurishankar has filed an affidavit in the court citing a new will dated 17 December 2022, in which he has claimed some properties given to him by his mother Sulochana Kalyani. NDTV Profit has reviewed a copy of the affidavit.
Baba Kalyani’s clarification on Gaurishankar’s allegations
Denying all the allegations made by Gaurishankar, a spokesperson of Baba said that, ‘The matter of probate of the will dated 27 January 2012 is pending in Pune Civil Court’. Apart from this, he said that, ‘All the allegations and arguments made against Baba are false’
The spokesperson said, ‘The allegations and arguments made in the affidavit of late Sulochana Kalyani are false and denied as stated by Gaurishankar Kalyani. Baba Kalyani will properly represent his case before the Hon’ble Pune District Court’
Legal battle continues with nephew and niece as well
There is already a legal battle going on between Baba and Gaurishankar’s only sister Sugandha Hiremath’s children and Baba over the demand for a share in the property. The Hiremath family has filed a petition demanding one-ninth share in the Kalyani family as per the rules of Hindu Undivided Family (HUF). Both Baba and Gaurishankar are against this demand and both have demanded the dismissal of this petition. They say that the nephew and niece have no legal right over this will.
Sulochana left behind wealth worth crores after her death
Sulochana Neelkanth Kalyani passed away in February 2023 last year at the age of 89. Sulochana has left behind a lot of movable and immovable assets, which include several immovable properties in Maharashtra, her house ‘Parvati Niwas’ in Pune, shares of Bharat Forge and Kalyani Forge, precious jewelry and an FD. The value of this entire property is close to Rs 70,000 crore.
What did mother Sulochana say in the affidavit
The new filing alleges that Baba took over a major portion of the family wealth acquired by his father Neelakanta Annappa Kalyani. “After 1994, my husband and I were left with only a small portion of the wealth acquired by my husband,” Sulochana Kalyani said in the affidavit.
The mother also alleged that though she had a cordial relationship with Gaurishankar and his wife, Baba and his family instigated her to file a case against Gaurishankar.
Mother Sulochana has said in the affidavit that, ‘Baba has filed several proceedings and/or affidavits in my name in several courts through some of my relatives using my power of attorney. Sulochana Kalyani said that she wanted to end all the cases filed by her and/or through her power of attorney against Gaurishankar and his family.
“I do not want to control any property. I only want to live a healthy and comfortable life,” she said in the affidavit.
Bharat Forge is the first company of the Kalyani Group, founded on 19 June 1961 by Neelkanth Kalyani. It manufactures automotive components as well as components for industries such as aerospace, railways, marine and conventional and non-conventional energy. Bharat Forge is the flagship company of the Kalyani Group. Apart from Bharat Forge, Hikal Limited, Automotive Axles, BF Utilities Limited, Kalyani Steels, Kalyani Forge, Kalyani Investment Company and BF Investments are other companies of the Kalyani Group. Kalyani Strategic Systems holds a 51% stake in Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems, a joint venture with Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
