Undue influence is the key

The Hindu Succession Act says the property which a man inherits from any of his three immediate parental ancestors, father, paternal grandfather or paternal great grandfather, is ancestral property. This property cannot be sold, or willed without the consent of the other family members. So is the Birla property inherited and was Priyamvada Birla legally able to dispose of it in the manner she did? The answer seems to be yes because with the death of M.P. Birla, the co-parcenary had come to an end. Lawyer Pradeep Dinodia says, 8216;8216;The Hindu Undivided Family comes to an end unless there are two male members8217;8217;. It seems she was the estate8217;s sole owner .

If the Birlas prove that Lodha used his good offices with Mrs Birla to become a beneficiary, there may be grounds to declare the will invalid. The Act would then come into play. 8212; Monika Halan