From their shared family homes in London, Mumbai and Geneva, Britain’s wealthiest family ran an Anglo-Indian business empire that lasted for over a century.

But with ailing patriarch Srichand known as SP, who suffers from dementia, a feud has fractured the family, including nephews and nieces, uncles, cousins ​​​​and grandchildren further apart than anyone imagined.

Late last year, the family, who have a combined fortune of more than $14 billion, had so much funding dried up that attorneys acting on SP’s behalf said they were seriously considering moving him from a private hospital to a state home embarrassed -financed. Lawyers representing Srichand’s brother Gophihand disputed this, saying £5 million (US$5.9 million) was provided to him.

The family now has called a temporary ceasefirebut the long-standing and bitter dispute has jeopardized the future government of the Anglo-Indian Empire.

With 150,000 employees in nearly 40 countries, assets span six listed companies in India, ranging from one of India’s largest private banks to Ashok Leyland Ltd., the third largest bus manufacturer in the world.

The story of the battle can only be reported after a London court bid by Bloomberg News and others to lift restrictions and end years of secrecy. The judge agreed, taking the unusual step of saying Srichand had been so marginalized that a public scrutiny of the family’s conduct would be in his best interests.

At the heart of the disagreements was a pact the brothers made eight years ago: “everything belongs to everyone and nothing belongs to anyone”.

Whatever the intended spirit of this variation of “One for All and All for One”, it was not displayed in the London courtroom.

Varying interpretations pitted Srichand’s branch of the family, led by his daughter Vinoo, against the rest. Vinoo insisted that her uncles were trying to exclude her side of the family from funding and decision-making, leaving her with no choice but to take control of that to gain her father’s fortune.

The brothers portrayed the legal battle as a power grab that goes against SP’s long-held desires.

Each side accused the other of serious wrongdoing – and denied wrongdoing themselves – as they struggled to control the court narrative. Gopichand’s lawyer himself compared the turmoil Lion Tolstoy’s epic novel “War and Peace”.

It was a long way from the brothers agreeing that the family assets should be kept together.

Bollywood also made an appearance at the hearing when Gopichand sang “Mera Joota Hai Japani” – My Shoes Are Japanese – a Hindi song from a 1950s film about a man who says his heart stays in India, even if his clothes come from other countries.

Fighting back tears at times, he also told the judge that the four brothers were “one soul.” He recalled a conversation with SP as they walked through Green Park in central London.

“We two brothers never had feuds,” he said. “He told me if I leave early, take care of my own daughters as if they were your own.”

But in SP’s weakened state, Vinoo claims the exact opposite happened.

She said her side of the family was deprived of income from 2014 until it completely dried up as of 2018.

Vinoo, who rarely left her father’s bed and was once accused of yelling at hospital staff, called it a “financial squeeze.” She said her branch of the family had no choice but to draw on Srichand’s own resources.

In spring 2021, Vinoo and her sister, Shanu Hinduja, admitted before the judge that they had used SP’s funds for their own ends and relinquished their guardianship of his property and affairs. Her attorney, Clifford Chance, withdrew from representing her. Clifford Chance did not comment.

The conflict of interest that the two daughters continued to hold power of attorney is “blatant,” Justice Hayden said.

According to Gopichand’s lawyers, up to $26 million was spent from Srichand’s personal funds between 2013 and 2021, including legal fees and funds for his grandchildren.

In now-deleted tweets from last year, Srichand’s grandson, Karam Hinduja, wrote, “The SP brothers’ philosophy isn’t so much ‘all for one and one for all’ as it is ‘all for us, period’.” He said: ” There is nothing ‘common’ in this family.”

Gopichand has disputed this characterization.

Karam Hinduja. (Image: Bloomberg)

After the verdict, Vinoo and Shanu realized that a more comprehensive agreement within the family had yet to be signed.

“While we are pleased that the dispute over our father’s health and welfare has been resolved, a final resolution to the broader dispute has yet to be found so that we can meet our parents’ desire for safety and dignity in their final years.” , the two said in a statement.

“Friday’s decision will not affect the ongoing care of Mr SP Hinduja, to whom the family is united, or business operations,” a Gopichand Hinduja spokesman said. “The family looks forward to continuing a harmonious relationship in the future.”

Vinoo’s side of the family denies any cash embezzlement. According to their attorneys, the funding was cut to such an extent that they “had no new money from broader family resources.” It therefore drew on funds held by Srichand personally,” they said.

As the allegations flew back and forth, David Rees, a lawyer for Gopichand, said he tried to settle the dispute by acknowledging that the 2014 letter – a document signed by all four brothers – no longer applies to Srichand be binding.

The letter, which is intended to create a trust over the assets, has now actually been torn up.

So a truce. For now. But the question of future relationships and ownership is still up in the air.

“This is a family that has repeatedly and publicly affirmed that their family code is generous, generous and open-hearted,” the judge said in his ruling. “How this principle is implemented in everyday life is difficult to understand given the nature of the legal dispute before this court.”