Sachani brothers in court fight for father’s billions

The sons of billionaire businessman Ratila Sachani (deceased) are locked in a legal fight for his billions as their inheritance row heads back to court.

The younger son Manojkumar Sachani has moved to court to fire the executors of his father’s will, including his elder brother Rajendra Sachani, alleging intermeddling and sale of properties without the knowledge of beneficiaries.

Manojkumar claims in his affidavits that the appointed executors of his father’s will, have abused the trust by failing to distribute the deceased’s estate to its beneficiaries.

Gorhandas died on May 22, 2007, in Nairobi. He was an astute businessman of Indian origin with Kenyan citizenship.

Before his death, he had prepared a will and appointed Rajendra Sachani, another of his sons and Jayant Rach as the executors.

He had properties and cash in bank in both Kenya and the United Kingdom, including buildings and parcels of land.

Almost 18 years later, Manojkumar says his brother and the other executor continue to collect rent, access the deceased bank accounts and sometimes sell properties without the knowledge of the beneficiaries.

A case they had initially lodged at the High Court’s family division in Nairobi was dismissed for want of prosecution after the executors repeatedly failed to attend court.

In his new application through lawyer Nelima Walubengo, Manojkumar wants the dismissed file reinstated for the court to conclude the distribution of the estate to its beneficiaries.

He also wants the court to revoke the appointment of the executors and appoint him the estate administrator, alleging significant intermeddling with the estate.

For instance, Manojkumar claims the executors have already sold a house in Leicester, United Kingdom, from which sale he was given Sh600,000 as his share.

He also claimed the executors have been leasing the estate property, a parcel of land off Westlands Road in Nairobi from which they have accumulated in excess of Sh100 million in rental income. Manojkumar says such information has never been disclosed to the beneficiaries.

“It is necessary in the estate’s best interest that I am appointed administrator to conclude the estate’s administration,” he says in his affidavits.

That should happen after an audit of the estate and a presentation of its accounts including funds held in bank accounts, assets sold and their value and assets remaining.

“That unless the succession cause herein is reinstate, the applicant/beneficiary will have been condemned unheard and suffer irreparable loss and damage,” Manojkumar says in the affidavits before the High Court in Nairobi.