The Kalyani family feud has intensified, with Sugandha Hiremath, sister of industrialist Baba Kalyani, accusing her younger brother Gaurishankar Kalyani of seizing ancestral properties in Karad. Sugandha alleges that Gaurishankar misused a power of attorney (POA) from their late father, Dr. Neelkanth Kalyani, to "illegally and wrongfully" transfer two prime properties to his name. This dispute is part of an ongoing legal battle over the Kalyani family assets in a Pune court, where Sugandha seeks a partition of assets, including stakes in Bharat Forge.
Sugandha claims the POA, granted in 2008, was intended only for managing the assets but was dishonestly altered to include gifting and transferring powers. She submitted court statements from an employee of Gaurishankar's firm, who allegedly admitted to being coerced into accepting the POA and executing the transfers under pressure from Gaurishankar's wife, Rohini Kalyani. Sugandha asserts that Dr. Neelkanth Kalyani revoked the POA in 2009 after discovering the alleged fraud and initiated legal proceedings, which remain pending in a Karad court.
Furthermore, Sugandha accuses both Gaurishankar and Baba Kalyani of secretly transferring other joint family assets and concealing these actions from the court. She stated in her affidavit that her brothers deny the existence of a joint family nucleus and the status of the Kalyani Family HUF (Hindu Undivided Family) while simultaneously transferring HUF properties to themselves through "nefarious means, and without maintaining any record of such transfers".
This is not the only legal challenge within the Kalyani family. Sugandha has also challenged her late mother's wills in court, alleging coercion and undue influence by her brothers, who are the primary beneficiaries. She claims that the wills, drafted in 2012 and 2022, are contradictory and were obtained while her mother was under the influence of each brother. The disputed estate includes significant holdings in Kalyani Group companies and other assets, and Sugandha seeks an equal division of the estate among the heirs.
Adding another layer to the complex family conflict, Sugandha has accused Baba Kalyani of "playing fraud on the court" regarding the construction of a memorial shrine (Samadhi) for their mother, Sulochana Kalyani. She claims that Baba has been inconsistent in his statements and actions regarding the Samadhi's location, initially dismissing her request to build it next to their father's Samadhi in Keshav Nagar, Pune.
In response to these allegations, a spokesperson for Baba Kalyani stated that Sugandha Hiremath has failed to secure any favorable orders from the courts despite filing numerous cases, suggesting her claims are false. The spokesperson has also denied the allegations against Baba Kalyani, calling them "baseless and malicious". Regarding the partition suit, a Kalyani spokesperson stated that they would appropriately defend against the new suit, while also pointing out that Sugandha has been unsuccessful in her previous claims against them.
The Pune Civil Court has issued notices to Baba Kalyani and Gaurishankar Kalyani regarding Sugandha's partition suit, seeking a one-third share of the Kalyani HUF wealth. Her counsel has requested the appointment of a receiver to manage the promoter shares of Kalyani group companies, alleging that her brothers have been selling and transferring these shares and other family assets over the years. The court has listened to the counsel's request and will issue notices to the other parties involved before making any orders. This intricate family feud encompasses disputes over property, inheritance, and even the memory of their late mother, highlighting deep divisions within the Kalyani family.
