Libas chairman loses battle over store at Peddar Road

The Bombay city civil court has now ordered the property to be divided into two parts and if not possible , it should be auctioned

One of the biggest showrooms of Libas — a fashion brand made popular by designer Riyaz Ganji — at Peddar Road, is in trouble after a court order on the ownership of the property.

Nishant Mahimtura — the chairman of the fashion brand — lost a rights battle to Rekha Vipin, the sister of his late mother. (HT)

Nishant Mahimtura — the chairman of the fashion brand — lost a rights battle to Rekha Vipin, the sister of his late mother.

The Bombay city civil court has now ordered the property to be divided into two parts and if not possible , it should be auctioned. Further, half of the share of the property would go to Rekha and remaining share would be equally divided between Mahimtura and his sister.

The showroom is on the ground floor of Shanti building No.2 at D Deshmukh Road. It was claimed that Mahimtura had merged two flats, one owned by his late aunt Labhuben and another owned by him to open the bigger showroom at the place.

Labhuben’s flat was originally owned by Mahimtura’s maternal grandfather Dr Shivshankar Soneji. Later after Soneji’s death, the property was occupied by one of Soneji’s three daughters Labhuben.

Rekha said that Labhuben, a dentist was running her clinic from the flat. She died in Jaslok hospital on January 11, 2005. Rekha said during her lifetime, Mahimtura never looked after her and they never shared good relations. Rekha in her suit said that on the day of Labhuben’s death, Mahimtura entered her house and took over the possession.

Rekha further said that he later broke the wall of the said flat connecting to his flat and merged the property.

The court after hearing both the side observed that there was no proof of any family arrangements. The court also observed, “The conduct, knowledge and intention of the defendants shows that the defendants illegally, unauthorisedly and forcibly entered into the premises immediately after the death of Dr Labhuben.”