Hindujas in a legal dispute over billionaire family assests 

Hinduja brothers are locked in a legal dispute in the High Court in England over their billionaire family assets.

The case has been brought by Srichand Parmanand Hinduja, 84, described as the "patriarch" of the family, against brothers G P Hinduja, P P Hinduja, and A P Hinduja, and revolves around the "validity and effect" of a letter dated July 2, 2014.

The letter includes statements to the effect that the brothers appoint each other as their executors, and that assets held in any single brother's name belong to all four.

A related second letter is also linked to the dispute."In summary, SP seeks a declaration that neither document has legal effect, whether as a will, power of attorney, declaration of trust or another binding document, or alternatively that the documents are revocable and have been revoked," Justice Sarah Falk notes in her judgment.

Presiding over a private hearing in the Chancery Division of the High Court, Justice Falk also partially ruled against a privacy order in the case and agreed for S P Hinduja's daughter, Vinoo, to act on her father's behalf as his "litigation friend" and safeguard her father's interests due to his ill health as a result of a form of dementia.

"It is very unfortunate that these proceedings are taking place as they go against our Founder's and family's values and principles that have stood for many decades, especially, 'everything belongs to everyone and nothing belongs to anyone'. We intend to defend the claim to uphold these dearly held family values," said a joint statement by G P, P P, and A P Hinduja.

Referring to the issue as "private family matters" now subject to litigation, they add, "We would also stress that this litigation will not have any impact on our global businesses, which will continue to function as they have been."The Hinduja brothers, who run the Hinduja Group of companies, have an estimated fortune of 16 billion pounds, according to the 2020 'Sunday Times Rich List', said.

Their business conglomerate, based in Mumbai and headquartered in London, covers a wide range of sectors including automotive, hospitality, banking, and healthcare.