A battle for inheritance has engulfed the PRS Oberoi clan following his death in November last year. The point of contention in this tussle is PRS Oberoi’s shareholding in EIH Ltd, Oberoi Hotels and Oberoi Properties.
The dispute, as laid out before the Delhi High Court, is between two factions within the family. One camp comprises Anastasia Jojic Oberoi, PRS Oberoi’s daughter from his second marriage with Marijana Jojic Oberoi.
The other camp in this battle is led by Anastasia’s stepbrother Vikramjit Oberoi, stepsister Natasha Devi Oberoi and cousin Arjun Oberoi.
Anastasia approached the Delhi High Court, alleging that her step-siblings and cousin are attempting to sell PRS Oberoi’s shares in Oberoi Hotels and Oberoi Properties.
She claims that this would be a violation of PRS Oberoi’s 2021 will and 2022 codicil.
As per the 2021 will, Anastasia has claimed rights over 1600 A Class shares and 62,075 B Class shares of Oberoi Hotels. Further, she demands 100 A Class shares and 2,600 B Class shares of Oberoi Properties; and a 46% capital contribution in Aravali Polymer.
Anastasia has also claimed land parcels in Gurugram and a 12-acre villa in Delhi under the terms of the will.
In addition, she has laid a 50 per cent claim on PRS Oberoi’s assets, which were “discovered” later and has requested disclosure of all other assets.
Anastasia has also demanded Rs 2 crores in damages from the will’s executors, Daniel Lee, Natasha Devi Oberoi and Rajaraman Shankar.
However, Vikramjit and Arjun Oberoi have refuted the claims made by Anastasia. In their defence, they have pointed to a will from 1992 that PRS Oberoi’s father, Bahadur MS Oberoi, signed. They contend that Rai Bahadur MS Oberoi and PRS Oberoi came to an agreement whereby the latter was to hold MS Oberoi’s shares in trust for Vikramjit and Arjun. They have argued that PRS Oberoi did not own the shares in Oberoi Hotels and Oberoi Properties. Rather, he just served as a trustee.
As an interim measure, the Delhi High Court ordered that the status quo be maintained. The court has prohibited the executors of the will, as well as EIH, Oberoi Hotels and Oberoi Properties from transferring any shares held by PRS Oberoi.
The Delhi High Court has also given ownership of a villa in Kapashera, Delhi, to Anastasia Oberoi and her mother. The matter is now expected to be heard on December 12 this year.
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