According to the wills, there will be two different distributions of Sulochana Kalyani’s property.
According to a Times of India report, both businessmen are in a legal battle over their mother, Sulochana Kalyani’s will. The report mentions that Baba has filed a petition in the Pune civil court to probate (to ensure that the deceased person’s assets are distributed according to their wishes) their mother’s will, dated January 27, 2012. On the other hand, Gaurishankar has contested it, presenting another will dated December 17, 2022. According to the 2 wills, there will be two different distributions of Sulochana Kalyani’s property. This property also includes shares and other assets of Kalyani Group.
It has added to the already ongoing disputes between Baba Kalyani with an earlier conflict with his sister, Sugandha Hiremath. Sugandha’s children Sameer Jai Hiremath and Pallavi Anish Swadi filed a lawsuit in a Pune court in April, seeking the division of Kalyani family assets. The family alleged that they have a rightful share in the Kalyani Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) assets. They alleged that Baba Kalyani has withheld transparency regarding their entitlement. The Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) comprises all persons directly descended from a common ancestor. It also comprises the wives and daughters of the male descendants. Baba Kalyani and Gaurishankar Kalyani have stated that Sugandha Hiremath’s children do not hold any stake in the assets.
Baba Kalyani’s company Bharat Forge stated the lawsuit filed by Sameer Jai Hiremath and Pallavi Anish Swadi. As per the statement, “The claims by the petitioners have been made with the intent to malign the image of Shri Baba Kalyani, his family & the Group. We categorically deny these allegations and state that the aversions made are factually incorrect and baseless.”
Sulochana Kalyani died in February 2023 at the age of 89. She left behind a substantial estate that includes real estate properties across Maharashtra and the family residence (Parvati Niwas in Pune). It also includes the shares in Bharat Forge and Kalyani Forge, as well as gold, diamond jewellery, and fixed deposits.
Gaurishankar’s affidavit on July 15, 2024 had claimed that his mother had made another will on December 9, 2022. Subsequently, on August 3, 2024, Viraj Kalyani, Gaurishankar’s son moved for probate of Sulochana’s will in a Pune court. This case comes up for hearing on September 23, 2024.
Gaurishankar’s affidavit says Sulochana accused Baba Kalyani of taking away most of the family wealth, leaving his parents with a small portion. “Between 1992 and 1994, Baba took away the control of several companies, including BFL (Bharat Forge) and KSL (Kalyani Steels), from my husband. After 1994, my husband and I were left with only a small portion of the wealth generated by my husband,” the affidavit said. The affidavit was signed three months before Sulochana passed away.
In the affidavit, Sulochana states that around 2007, she and her husband, Neelkanth Kalyani, wished to see that Gaurishankar and his family were secured during their lifetime and they decided to gift whatever wealth remained with them to Gaurishankar and took steps to gift the wealth to him.
Sulochana’s affidavit said she was under pressure from Baba Kalyani to reverse these decisions and at the behest of Baba, she filed some proceedings against Gaurishankar, his family and companies/trusts controlled by them. She also claimed that Baba had filed proceedings in various courts and tribunals using her power of attorney and she was not aware of the contents of these proceedings. She then went on to withdraw several proceedings filed in her name against Gaurishankar and his family members.
In her affidavit, she also stated that her husband inherited substantial wealth from his father in 1962, which was used to establish Bharat Forge, Kalyani Steels and several other companies.
