HC adjourns hearing over Bal Thackeray’s will dispute to March 10

MUMBAI: Justice R D Dhanuka of the Bombay high court on Monday adjourned to March 10 the hearing in a dispute between the Thackeray brothers over the will of their father, late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. On March 10, the HC will hear an interim application by Jaidev Thackeray for orders to restrain Uddhav and other executors from alienating properties, including Matoshree.

The judge is first, however, expected to decide on the maintainability of Jaidev's application as Uddhav is bound to object. The HC also posted to April 7 the question of framing issues in the will saga.

The issues in such cases usually are whether the will is genuine, whether the executors establish the genuineness of the will and other questions concerning the validity of the will.

Uddhav, the third in the line of four sons, who inherited the Sena chief's seat, had moved the HC for a probate of the will. The court certifies will as valid in the probate petition. But when Jaidev, the second son, objected, the petition turned into a dispute last June. Bal Thackeray has left Uddhav almost everything, including the Rs 12-crore Matoshri bungalow, and Jaidev nothing. But Jaidev's son from his second wife Smita Thackeray is a beneficiary.