Family Feud: Indian Tycoon in US Ordered to Pay Rs 20,000 Crore to Four Brothers

A longstanding land dispute in Los Angeles has culminated in a United States jury ordering a business tycoon to pay his four brothers a staggering Rs 20,000 crore in damages and to divide their Southern California property. The legal battle, spanning over two decades, involves diamonds, trade, and real estate.

Haresh Jogani, embroiled in the 21-year-old feud with his siblings, has been instructed by the jury to settle the dispute with his brothers by paying the hefty sum and redistributing shares of their Southern California property empire, valued at billions of dollars.

The dispute, rooted in a 2003 lawsuit, has navigated through 18 appeals, multiple generations of attorneys, and five judges in the Los Angeles Superior Court before reaching its verdict. The trial revolves around allegations that Haresh Jogani violated a longstanding partnership agreement with his brothers, leading to a breach of trust and subsequent legal action.

The legal saga has drawn parallels to Charles Dickens’ novel “Bleak House”, with lawyers likening it to the fictional Victorian-era probate case. Termed as “Jogani v. Jogani”, the case underscores the complexity and duration of legal battles involving family and property disputes.

“While in ‘Bleak House’ there was no money left, in our case, billions remain to be distributed,” remarked an attorney representing Chetan and Rajesh Jogani, underscoring the significant financial stakes involved in the dispute.

The Jogani brothers, originating from Gujarat, amassed wealth through their global ventures in the diamond trade, spanning Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East. The roots of the dispute trace back to the early 1990s when Shashikant Jogani, one of the brothers, initiated the family partnership, incorporating his siblings into his business endeavors in California.

Haresh Jogani’s termination of the partnership, followed by his refusal to compensate his brother Shashikant for his contributions, sparked the legal battle. Despite claims of the absence of a written agreement, the court found Haresh Jogani in breach of an oral contract, a common practice within the Gujarati community and the diamond trade.

The jury’s decision, marking a significant victory for Shashikant Jogani, underscores the enduring complexities and challenges inherent in resolving family disputes, especially those involving substantial financial interests and legacy assets.