Court to decide validity of Kalyanis’ wills

In a development that will extend the timeline to resolve the dispute between the Kalyani family, the two wills filed for probate by Baba Kalyani, the chairman and MD of Bharat Forge, and his brother, Gaurishankar Kalyani, will now go to trial. The Kalyani brothers submitted two different wills from their mother, Sulochana Kalyani, for probate in Pune court.

Their sister, Sugandha Hiremath, opposed the probate applications and challenged the validity of the two wills. She has claimed a one-third share of the property, arguing that due to the existence of two contradictory wills, the court should consider that her mother died intestate (without a will). The Pune court has converted the probate applications into a suit and will begin hearings to determine the validity of the wills.

Earlier, Hiremath sought the appointment of a court receiver or administrator for all assets left behind by her mother to protect them and prevent her brothers from disposing of them. The first will, dated January 2012, bequeathed all assets to Baba Kalyani. Earlier this year, the executors of this will, Madan Umakant Takale and Shrikant Kiran Adivarekar, filed for probate in Pune court. 

The Gaurishankar Kalyani family submitted the second will, following Sulochana Kalyani’s death in February 2023. Viraj Kalyani, Gaurishankar’s son, moved for probate of this will, dated December 2022, that favours Gaurishankar and his family.

Both brothers have contested each other’s probate applications. In her affidavits filed against both applications, Hiremath pointed out that her brothers presented separate wills that were contradictory. She alleged that the wills were obtained under coercion and should be dismissed.

Baba Kalyani has requested that the court refrain from appointing any administrator or imposing restrictions on his voting rights. 

As a major shareholder in several publicly-traded companies, the Bharat Forge boss stated that any direction limiting his ability to vote, concerning his shares would significantly hinder operations of those companies.