As family secrets out, Hindujas aim for peace

LONDON: For over two years, members of the billionaire Hinduja family, voted as the richest in Britain, sought to ensure reporting restrictions on cases fought between them in the English courts. On Friday, a three-judge bench lifted these restrictions bringing into public domain the lurid details of the bitter family feud. Yet, the most important aspect that has come out is that the daughters of the eldest brother Srichand Hinduja, and his younger brothers led by Gopichand Hinduja – the two sparring sides – have agreed to “heads of terms” which lays down cessation of all disputes between them.

While how sustainable that “heads of terms” would be, only time can tell, but shocking details have emerged of the indifference from the family members regarding the care to be provided to Srichand Hinduja. Due to lack of consensus, bickering and constantly shifting positions adopted by family members, it seemed inevitable that Srichand would be placed in a public nursing home, which would be equivalent to a government hospital in India, inspite of the eye-watering fortune of the family.

Proceedings also commenced in the Court of Protection as the younger brothers challenged the legitimacy of the lasting power of attorney Srichand gave to his daughters.