In a significant legal intervention, the Delhi High Court has issued an interim order to halt the transfer of shares within EIH Limited and associated companies of the Oberoi Hotel group. This decision comes amidst an ongoing inheritance dispute following the will of the late hotelier PRS Oberoi.
The court’s decision affects several entities within the group, including Oberoi Hotels Pvt Ltd and Oberoi Properties Pvt Ltd, ensuring no shares are transferred pending the resolution of the case. The dispute involves PRS Oberoi’s children—Anastasia Oberoi and Vikramjit Singh Oberoi—and other family members, revolving around the will dated October 25, 2021, which is contested by another will from 1992.
Justice Navin Chawla, presiding over the case, noted that the plaintiffs, Anastasia Oberoi and her mother Mirjana Jojic Oberoi, presented a “good prima facie case” and acknowledged the potential “grave irreparable harm” if the disputed assets were transferred before the matter is fully adjudicated. The court has restrained the executors and named defendants from transferring shares and has also protected the plaintiffs’ possession and enjoyment of a family home in Kapashera, Delhi.
The legal contention centers around the execution of PRS Oberoi’s last will, which purportedly divides his shares between his daughters, Natasha and Anastasia—the latter through a trust for which she is the beneficiary. The defendants, including Anastasia’s brother Vikramjit and cousin Arjun, challenge the 2021 will, suggesting it does not reflect their father’s true intentions. They reference an earlier will from 1992 and assert a prior oral understanding that the shares were held in trust for them by PRS Oberoi under an agreement with his father, Rai Bahadur MS Oberoi.
Furthermore, the defendants pointed out restrictions in the Articles of Association concerning the transfer of shares to a trust, suggesting that shares should first be offered to existing shareholders.
The dispute paints a complex picture of family dynamics and legal obligations, with the court emphasizing the need to protect the interests of the plaintiffs while the defendants prepare their responses. The final decision will hinge on the court’s interpretation of the wills and the applicable corporate governance structures.
