Tycoon brothers Malvinder Singh, Shivinder accuse each other of assault; watch video
In the latest twist to their ongoing corporate battle, elder brother Malvinder Singh in a video circulated on social media claimed that he was hit by younger brother Shivinder. In the video, he alleged that the incident happened Wednesday as Shivinder was trying to disrupt the board meeting of a group company, Prius Real Estate, which he reportedly claimed has lent around Rs 2,000 crore to companies owned by Gurinder Singh Dhillon and his family.
The ongoing feud between the Singh brothers came to blows on Friday, as they accused each other of assault. Younger brother Shivinder Singh said the latest incident closes all options for any possible solution to work together with his elder sibling Malvinder Singh, who on his part stated that Shivinder is not equipped to handle professional situations.
In the latest twist to their ongoing corporate battle, elder brother Malvinder Singh in a video circulated on social media claimed that he was hit by younger brother Shivinder. In the video, he alleged that the incident happened Wednesday as Shivinder was trying to disrupt the board meeting of a group company, Prius Real Estate, which he reportedly claimed has lent around Rs 2,000 crore to companies owned by Gurinder Singh Dhillon and his family.
Shivinder Singh, the younger brother, in a statement, however, denied the claim stating, "This is false and a shameless attempt to cast doubt on my integrity," adding "It has been clear to me for some time that Malvinder and I cannot work together. The gulf between our value systems is clearly too wide. This latest incident closes all options for any possible solution to work together."
Putting out his side of the incident, Shivinder said on December 5, he visited "our office for a scheduled extraordinary general meeting (EGM). On arriving, I was concerned to find out that one of the directors had left the ongoing board meeting due to unnecessary intimidating tactics being adopted by the (only) other board member, Malvinder's relative", PTI report quoted him as saying.
Shivinder further added, "It appeared that Malvinder was trying to coerce some employees to video record statements under duress. Concerned for the well-being of the employees I entered the room to understand what was going on." "Angered on seeing him there", he added, "Malvinder attempted to forcibly restrain me and pinned me to the wall choking me. I tried to push him away in self-defense."
Shivinder reportedly said that he even made a made a police complaint, which was later withdrawn following intervention of the family to keep issues private.
Malvinder Singh, however, put forth his side of the event, in a statement as: "Shivinder who is neither a Director, Employee nor Shareholder in a particular company came to the venue with an intention to disrupt a critical Board meeting of the said company."
"After hearing about the disruption I came to the venue to understand the situation. While I was trying to understand the situation with the members present, he forced himself into the room and physically assaulted me," Malvinder said.
Malvinder reportedly said: "I went to the police station to lodge my complaint. Seeing my condition I was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital by the police authorities. I am now recovering from the pain and shock of the incident." He further added that on the intervention of family and in view of Shivinder's apology, "I withdrew the police complaint lodged by me."
Further, he stated that contrary press release issued belatedly are mere attempts to cover up uncouth and unbecoming behaviour, adding "This simply reinforces the fact that Shivinder is not equipped to handle professional situations but instead is a hindrance in recovering dues owed to the group."
Notably, the relationship between the Singh brothers, former promoters of Fortis Healthcare and Ranbaxy, went sour after allegations of fund diversion from the healthcare chain emerged.
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#Fortis के मलविंदर सिंह ने शिविंदर पर हमले का आरोप लगाया, दोनों भाईयों में झगड़ा।@AnilSinghviZEE @SwatiKJain pic.twitter.com/ot7YCQiPTf
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Earlier in September this year, Shivinder had filed a petition before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) alleging that collective and ongoing actions of Malvinder and ex-Religare chief Sunil Godhwani led to a systemic undermining of the interests of the companies and their shareholders.
Shivinder had also alleged that Malvinder forged his wife's signature, perpetrated illegal financial transactions and led the company into an unsustainable debt trap. Later, on September 14, the petition was withdrawn by Shivinder from NCLT on his mother's advice, PTI added.
11:36 PM IST