SC reserves verdict in Birla-Lodha cross appeals

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved judgment in the cross-appeals filed by the Birlas and RS Lodha challenging each other's right to object to late Priyamvada Birla's purported 1999 Will and late MP Birla's 1982 Will, respectively.

Under the 1999 Will, Priyamvada had bequeathed her Rs 5,000 crore estate to Lodha, her chartered accountant.

A bench headed by Justice SB Sinha, which heard the matter since Tuesday, reserved its verdict.

The three Birla family members, KK Birla, BK Birla and Yashovardhan Birla, had sought covetable interest in Lodha's probate petition for MP Birla group's assets.

The Birlas claim that it is their duty to see that the Priyamvada estate is given to three public charities as designated under the mutual wills executed by MP Birla and Priyamvada in 1982.

The Lodha group has filed two new petitions against Birlas' petition.

Lodha has challenged the Calcutta High Court's decision upholding the covetable interest of GP Birla, executor of the purported July 13, 1982 Will of MP Birla and Priyamvada.

According to Lodha, by virtue of being an executor under the mutual Will, G P Birla had no right to oppose the grant of probate of a later Will.

Unless the order with regard to the covet interest of GP Birla was stayed, "GP Birla will contest the suit as a defendant and thereby cause grave inconvenience and prejudice to the petitioner. The present SLP in that case would also be rendered infructuous", Lodha's petition stated.