Inheritance war: How fight for PRS Oberoi’s legacy is unfolding in court

The Oberoi family’s legal battle over the inheritance of their renowned hotel empire has been making waves in the courtroom.
The dispute centres around the late Prithvi Raj Singh (PRS) Oberoi’s estate, with conflicting wills and claims on shares, properties, and assets.
The fight for control within the family has reached the Delhi High Court, where the legal proceedings are unfolding.
PRS Oberoi, who passed away 10 months ago, left behind two conflicting wills, sparking a battle between the siblings and cousins.
On one side, his daughter from his second marriage, Anastasia Oberoi, is fighting for her rights, while on the other side are Vikramjit Oberoi, Natasha Oberoi, and cousin Arjun Oberoi, who are contesting the claims.
Anastasia Oberoi has taken the matter to the Delhi High Court, arguing that her step-siblings and cousin are attempting to prevent the rightful execution of her father’s most recent will, dated October 25, 2021.
Along with a codicil from August 27, 2022, Anastasia Oberoi claims that this will grants her rightful ownership of the assets and properties listed.
However, Vikramjit Oberoi, Managing Director and CEO of EIH Ltd (the flagship company of the Oberoi Group), along with Arjun Oberoi, the Executive Chairman of EIH, disputes her claim.
Vikramjit Oberoi, in his defence, has put forward an earlier will, dated March 20, 1992.
According to this will, PRS Oberoi did not have full ownership of the shares in Oberoi Hotels. Vikramjit Oberoi contends that these shares were held in trust for him and Arjun Oberoi, and should be passed on to them upon PRS Oberoi’s death.
With these competing wills, the court has become the arena for deciding which will represents PRS Oberoi’s final intentions.
The Delhi High Court, presided over by Justice Navin Chawla, issued an interim order in favour of Anastasia Oberoi.
The order prevents the transfer of any shares in EIH Ltd, Oberoi Hotels, and Oberoi Properties until the case is resolved. This includes the shares that are a key point of contention between Anastasia and her siblings.
The court also ruled that Anastasia Oberoi and her mother’s rights to their family home in Kapashera, Delhi, should be protected. Family members have been restrained from interfering with their possession of this property.
The court has acknowledged that Anastasia Oberoi and her mother have presented sufficient evidence, including the will and codicil, which suggests that they have a strong case.
However, Vikramjit Oberoi and Arjun Oberoi challenge the validity of this will and claim that an earlier family agreement entitles them to the shares in question.
The court has directed all parties to file their responses, and the next step will involve reviewing documents provided by both sides. The key question remains: which of PRS Oberoi’s wills will the court uphold?
One crucial part of the court’s order is its restriction on transferring shares.
The court has allowed the transfer of one Class-A share in each of Oberoi Hotels and Oberoi Properties to Rajaraman Shankar, one of the executors of the will.
However, Shankar’s voting rights on these shares are limited strictly to ensuring legal compliance, meaning he cannot participate in decisions unrelated to statutory obligations.
In addition to her claims over the family’s assets, Anastasia Oberoi has asked the court to declare that she is entitled to 1,68,281 shares of EIH Ltd, which were held by PRS Oberoi. She has also sought the transfer of these shares from his demat account at ICICI Bank.
The plaintiffs, Anastasia Oberoi and her mother, are further seeking a declaration of ownership over Class A and B shares in Oberoi Hotels and Oberoi Properties, as well as a 46% stake in Aravali Polymers LLP.
They have also requested the court to declare their entitlement to 50% of any remaining assets that might be discovered from PRS Oberoi’s estate, including land in Kanha, Madhya Pradesh.
The timing of this dispute couldn’t be more crucial, as the Oberoi Group is in the midst of expanding its operations in the hospitality sector. Analysts warn that the ongoing legal battle may distract the company’s leadership from focusing on growth, which could affect its position in an increasingly competitive market.
(With inputs from Srishti Ojha)