WAR OVER TYCOON’S MILLIONS
Family feud as businessman dies
Four members of a tycoon’s family are locked in a bitter fight over his multimillion-pound estate.
Dilip Srivastava died aged 53 earlier this month.
With millions in the bank and expensive tastes, businessman Dilip Srivastava fully earned the nickname friends gave him – The Great Gatsby.
But his untimely death on May 7 at the age of 53 has led to a four-way war over his multi-million-pound estate.
His passing has caused a ri f t between his two younger brothers – former brothel bosses Kris “KK” Srivastava, and Suresh, who’s known as Sid.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that the wealthy tycoon had two daughters – one with ex- wife Lesley Armstrong and another with former partner Alison Fanning.
All four are now preparing for a bitter battle over the massive Srivastava estate.
Dilip, known as Dil, built up a vast fortune as one of the founding directors of NCS Office Holdings Ltd, making him one of Scotland’s most successful entrepreneurs.
In their last financial year, the office technology group saw turnover rise to just under £ 20mi l l ion from £18.2million the year before.
And sources in the family say a feud has already started over who is entitled to a share of Dil’s riches.
Kris said: “I wasn’t at my brother’s funeral.
“I ’ m concerned about what will happen to his estate because Dil worked hard for everything he had. Greed brings out the worst in people but I don’t know what’s happening.”
Suresh said: “I was close to Dil and helped look after him when he was sick.
“Kris owes me money. He was asked to payy it back but wouldn’t.
“He was toldd if he was concerned ed he should comeme back to Scotland nd but he either says ays he’s too busyy or will get arrested.” d.”
Older brotherr Dil passed away after being struck down own by a brain tumour.our.
His firm supply upply office and telecomscoms equipment to some of the country’ss best-bestknown companies. nies.
Theirsuc cc ess allowed Dil to liveive in a £ 1.5million homeome in Glasgow’ s posh Whitecraigs, which he kitted out withh its own nightclub-stylee bar.
He also had a £1million villa in Spain, a Rolls-llRoyce, two Bentleys, a yacht and a collection of Rolex watches and Peter Howson paintings.
Kris and Suresh are said to have powerful personalities and were the closest to Dil of his five siblings.
Sources say Suresh took the decision to ban Kris from the funeral and has been taking an itinerary of Dil’s high-value watch collection.
Kris has told pals he doesn’t believe Suresh is entitled to anything in Dil ’s will but sources said whi le both brothers believe they’re due a slice of the estate, others have legitimate claims too.
Dil wed former air hostess Lesley at Gleneagles in 2005 but they split several years after their daughter was born in December 2009.
Lesley then moved into a £ 400,000 home in Newton Mearns, where she lives with the seven-year- old girl.
Alison l ives with Di l ’s other daughter in a Glasgow hhousing estate and rreceives maintenance ppayments of £800 per month.
A source said : “There are many strands ofDil’ s family, as well as his business associa associates, who are entitled to some of his estate.
“It will end up in court unless there’s the unlikely outcome that everyone gets what they feel they are properly entitled to.
“People are seeking legal advice on where to go next.”
Lesley said: “I can’t tell you how emotional I am at Dil’s passing. I wouldn’t want to say anything else about this.”
Alison declined to comment but a source close to the family said :“One
daughter goes to private school while the older one goes to school in her local estate.
“He paid £ 500 per month maintenance and then this went up to £ 800.
“It might sound a lot to some people but it works out at £200 a week from a guy who was worth multiple millions.
“She and her mum were told to stay away from the funeral. They are seeking legal advice on where they go from here.”
A death notice published last week said: “Dil wil l be remembered with great love and will be sadly missed by all of his family and friends.”
Dil got his nickname from the title character in F Scott Fitzgerald novel The Great Gatsby.
Another fami ly member said: “He loved the best life had to offer. He had things most people can only dream about.
“If you were standing in a car showroom worrying about spending £15,000, he would be in an antiques store buying an ornament worth double that.
“It was like being in the company of The Great Gatsby but despite his big spending, Dil always wanted value for money.
“If he loaned someone cash, he always made sure he got it back, even if it was £100 – which is one reason he was so rich.
“He was very charming and disarmed people he met with his personality – but he was also hard- headed when he didn’t get what he wanted.”
Kris and Suresh ran the notorious Carlton Club sex sauna in Glasgow before it shut down almost a decade ago. Kris moved to Thailand and built a property portfolio while Suresh started a car-hire firm.
Kris was banned from Dil’s funeral, which took place at Linn crematorium on May 13. Sources say Suresh told him to stay away and had cut off communication with his brother, despite once being a regular visitor to his home.
An insider said: “Relations between Kris and Suresh are at an all- time low. They were once close and Suresh often went to Thailand to visit Kris. Now he won’t even take a call from Kris to discuss Dil.
“Suresh has taken stock of things like Dil’s watches and other belongings, including his art collection.
“He isn’t executor of Dil’s will but has made himself busy and is planning to head to Dil’s house in Spain to do the same.
“Kris is re l y i n g on inf o rmat ion f rom fam i ly friends on what’s happening.
“Whatever happens, there’s going to be people very upset when Dil’s will is released.”
NCS Office Holdings Limited are a multi- mi l l ion- pound company who employ 170 staf f . They were owned equal ly between Di l and d Tom Nolan.
Profits before tax grew to a record level of £1.4million. In the past six years, the company have made over £ 4million in total.
According to their latest accounts, NCS had £1.9million cash in the bank. Net assets, including the value of stock, totalled £ 5.6million.
Three directors, including Dil, shared £ 343,000 in pay in the last f inancial year with the unnamed highest- paid director receiving £140,000.
Dividends of £102,000 were paid to two shareholders.
The company have grown partly through acquiring other firms in the sector.
In the latest accounts, they said although the outlook remained unsettled, the group continued to perform strongly.