HBI Staff | Hyderabad 
According to Bar and Bench, a family dispute over the will of late Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi, the former patriarch of Oberoi Hotels Group, has led to a legal standoff in the Delhi High Court. The court has temporarily restrained the transfer of shares in EIH Ltd, the parent company managing the Oberoi and Trident hotel chains, as well as shares in its holding companies, Oberoi Hotels Private Limited and Oberoi Properties Private Limited.
The case was brought forward by Oberoi’s daughter, Anastasia Oberoi, who along with her mother, claimed rights to the shares based on a will dated October 2021. The plaintiffs allege that family members, including her brother, sister, and cousin, are obstructing the execution of the will, which bequeaths shares in the companies and family property, ‘Villa Ashiana,’ to them.
An earlier will from March 1992 is being used by the defendants to counter Anastasia’s claim, arguing that Prithvi Raj Singh Oberoi’s shares were held in trust for the companies and should be inherited by them. The plaintiffs, however, successfully argued for an interim injunction, preventing the transfer or sale of shares and protecting their possession of the family property.
The legal battle has raised concerns within the hospitality industry, as EIH Ltd and its associated companies are key players in luxury hotel management, with high stakes in maintaining business continuity and shareholder confidence. As the case unfolds, the industry will closely watch how this dispute impacts the governance and future direction of Oberoi Hotels Group.
Commercial operations and partnerships related to EIH Ltd are not expected to be immediately affected, but the case brings attention to the governance challenges that can arise in family-owned hospitality businesses.
source : Bar and Bench
