Ex claims former MPL ‘artificially inflated’ joint estate value

THE ex-wife of former MPL Ramarak ‘Ram’ Maharaj, pictured, has accused him of “artificially inflating” the true value of their joint estate to mislead the Durban High Court that she is a multi millionaire.

Dropathy Maharaj, a former teacher, also said in her replying court papers that he had married Vijapathy Ramdas just weeks after their divorce had gone through.

The former couple’s legal spat over pension proceeds and properties has been punctuated by claims and counter claims.

Dropathy, represented by attorney Jutika Hariram, fired the first salvo in July.

In terms of the interim order she was granted, Ramarak, a retired politician and principal – he is also the former president of the South African Hindu Dharma Sabha – has been restrained from touching his ex-wife’s 50 percent share (about R1.3 million) in his Political Office-Bearers Pension Fund. Last month Ramarak, represented by advocate Nash Deoduth and attorney Rajesh Hiralall, hit back.

He obtained an order that attorney Arthie Maharaj be appointed as a liquidator to investigate the true value of his and Dropathy’s assets, and to submit a report to court on what assets are in their joint estate.

After Dropathy claimed in July that Ramarak had withdrawn all the proceeds, including her half share (about R2m), from the Government Employees’ Pension Fund (GEPF), he alleged she had done the same with his share (about R1m) from her holdings in the GEPF.

Couples married in community of property are entitled to a half share in their spouse’s estate.

Dropathy said that while her former husband made no fuss about her funds in the GEPF when they divorced, it was strange that he was making this an issue now.

“Ramarak has misled the court that I am wealthy. He did so to suit his own ends. I fear by the time this case is concluded my share in his Political OfficeBearers Pension Fund will have to be used towards legal costs,” she said.

“His claim that I bought three units at a complex known as Sheffield Mews in Reservoir Hills and had them transferred into the name of our daughter Praveena, a chiropractor, is a lie. Ramarak is aware that Praveena owns only one unit there. He is also aware that Praveena had sought his and my assistance to secure the apartment. After he declined to assist Praveena, I helped her to buy the property for R530 000 and sold it to Praveena for R400 000,” she said in papers.

“If I wanted to defraud him of the property as he alleged, I would have sold it to a third party at a far higher price. His claim that I own several properties is a blatant lie. I do not own a property on the South Coast and one in Pemilton Road, Reservoir Hills. Our matrimonial home in Reservoir Hills requires extensive repairs and is certainly not worth R1m as he claimed. He made the false claims to artificially inflate the figure in our joint estate,” Dropathy said. “He is being vindictive because I asked for my share of the funds in his pension fund.”

Their daughter, Praveena Maharaj, said in her affidavit she did not know why her father alleged that she had paid her mother R1.2 million for the Sheffield Mews property.

Ramarak must file his replying papers by next Friday.