The Hinduja Family’s Legal Drama Ends with a Big Family Hug
In a dramatic turn that could have made a Bollywood movie, the Delhi‑bred billionaire clan behind the Hinduja empire finally reached a truce in a long‑running legal battle over who gets to steer the ship. The verdict, handed down by the Court of Appeal in London, ruled that journalists can no longer keep the courtroom drama under wraps.
Why the Family Friction Happened
- Srichand Hinduja, 86, appears to be suffering from dementia, raising a big question about his care.
- “I gave my right of a lasting power of attorney to my wife Madhu and later to my daughters Vinoo and Shanu,” the elder brother Gopichand declared. But the younger siblings didn’t buy it.
- The dispute spilled into the Court of Protection, the specialist court that decides financial and welfare matters for those who can’t do so themselves.
- A separate claim in the High Court had already been stirred up back in 2019 over a letter from 2014, which argued that assets hanging under the brothers’ names belonged to all four of them.
The Verdict: “It’s Private, But Let’s Be Friends”
Judge Anthony Hayden’s ruling, published on Friday, told the brothers that the family had reached a confidential agreement to resolve the dispute both in London and abroad. “Our absolute priority has been keeping our parents’ wishes intact and protecting their dignity,” the sisters Vinoo and Shanu told a reporter in an email. The decision doesn’t touch on future business operations – they’re still all aboard the same ship.
What the Family Got From the Court
- The court agreed to end “all disputes existing between them in all jurisdictions.”
- The earlier 2020 judgment said the brothers used the 2014 letter as a basis for a takeover attempt of Hinduja Bank. The new ruling has knocked that out of the picture.
- Although the appellate panel rejected an appeal about reporting restrictions, the new decision means the press will finally get a millimeter of “transparency” into the proceedings.
Behind the Big Numbers
With interests in banking, chemicals, and healthcare, the Hinduja empire routinely ships around 200,000 employees worldwide and posted on the Sunday Times UK Rich List with a net worth exceeding £28 billion. Srichand, Gopichand, and the rest of the clan have effectively taken the top spot for this year.
The Final Slide?
While one side of the family is feeling that the health and welfare mess is all sorted, the other waits for a final settlement on the “broader disputes.” If you’re wondering whether the family has reached a long‑term truce, the judge said they “look forward to continuing a harmonious relationship in the future.” In other words: they’re all in for a family‑friendly, hard‑to‑beat reunion.
