More letters have surfaced in the Priyamvada Birla will case with the Lodha camp producing a letter written by Kashi Nath Tapuriah (brother of Priyamvada) to his sister and portrays the bitter relationship that they shared and also refers to the conflict in the Birla family.
Counsel for Rajendra Singh Lodha brought up the letter in court and highlighted that Tapuriah was a questionable character.
Birla vs Lodha: War over a will
The move assumed significance as Tapuriah happened to be an executor of the mutual wills of 1982 and had also been given the power of attorney in the Birla will case.
The mutual wills of 1982 were also brought to light by Tapuriah. The 30-page letter of December 1998 written by Tapuriah in Hindi mentions the strain in the relationship with Priyamvada Birla. The letter refers to threat call made by Priyamvada in 1998 to show the deterioration in the relationship.
The letter also brings to light another will made by M P Birla, apart from the 1982 will. Tapuriah referred to a will made by M P Birla in London after his surgery, where some bequests were made in favour in Tapuriah.
However, the letter, which was written in 1998 makes no reference to the mutual wills of 1982 or 1981.
Tapuriah also mentioned the internal conflict in the Birla family and the misbehaviour of some of the Birla family members with M P Birla. The letter refers to some disturbing incidents that occurred between M P Birla and other family members, which greatly disturbed him and he detached himself from the ongoing family battle.
Earlier the Lodhas had produced a letter by Ashok Birla to M P Birla, which also brought out the dispute within the family. The letter was produced to show that the family was not a Hindu undivided family.
Lawyers for Lodha used the letter in their arguments for opposing caveatable interest of Yash Birla.
The letter portrayed the bitter relationship between Ashok Birla and his uncle M P Birla as well as Priyamvada Birla.
The letter written five years prior to the death of M P Birla, stated, "Coming from you and aunty such spitefulness of late is not surprising. After all this is not the first time that you have exhibited your intense bitterness towards me and our family. Of course, on occasions you have chosen to express your bitterness against other family members also."
The letter goes on to allege that on numerous occasions uncles B K Birla, S K Birla and aunty B K Birla were used as tools of spite, at times in the most disgraceful manner.
