Move to take stock of Priyamvada assets

The Calcutta High Court today appointed four special officers to make inventory of the all household goods, personal effects, artefacts, work of art collections, ivory items, silver utensils, antiques and other goods and movable properties which are lying at the four houses of late Priyamvada Birla at Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai and Allahabad in response to a petition filed by the two sisters of Late M P Birla, Radhadevi Mohata and Laxmi Devi Newar.

Justice K J Sengupta passed the order and directed the parties to file their affidavits in the case fixed after four weeks for final hearing.

While passing the order, the court held that question of appointment of receiver will be considered after the final hearing of the case.

Justice Sengupta observed, "It is admitted fact that Rajendra Singh Lodha being the executor of Priyamvada Birla's will of 1999, has not disclosed details of the properties in the affidavit of assets filed by him in his grant of probate petition."

The Judge observed, "Lodha is not residing in any of these places. These properties are lying at the hands of staff and employees of the estate".

To make a proper inventorised list of the every goods lying at the four houses, the court appointed special officer but not a receiver, the judge held.

The court appointed Ahin Chowdury as the leader of the team of special officers. The names of the other three special officers were not given by the judge at the time of passing order in the open court room.

The court ordered that special officers will give 48 hours prior notice to the parties before commencing their inventory.

All the parties are allowed three representatives be present for assisting the special officers team at the time of inventory.

The special officer team headed by Ahin Chowdury will file their inventory list along with a report to the court at the time of hearing of the case.