Overview
Boney Kapoor has approached the Madras High Court to challenge the validity of a legal heirship certificate used by three individuals to claim rights over a Chennai property originally purchased by his late wife, actress Sridevi. The court has directed a local revenue official to decide on Kapoor's request to cancel the allegedly fraudulent certificate within four weeks.
Background of the Dispute
- Boney Kapoor alleges three individuals are unlawfully claiming rights to Sridevi’s East Coast Road (ECR) property in Chennai.
- The property was purchased by Sridevi on April 19, 1988, and has been in her family’s possession since then.
- The land originally belonged to M.C. Sambanda Mudaliar, whose heirs divided the property in 1960, enabling Sridevi’s purchase.
- The claimants assert to be the second wife and two children of one of Mudaliar’s sons, claiming an undivided share.
Legal Proceedings and Claims
- The three individuals obtained a legal heirship certificate from the Tambaram Tahsildar in 2005 to support their claim.
- Kapoor questioned the jurisdiction of the certificate, noting the original family resided in Mylapore, not Tambaram.
- He argued that the alleged second marriage is invalid under the Hindu Succession Act, as the first wife died only in 1999, after the supposed 1975 second marriage.
- The claimants have pursued various civil and revenue proceedings to establish ownership based on this certificate.
Court Directives
- Justice N. Anand Venkatesh instructed the Tambaram Tahsildar to decide within four weeks on Kapoor’s April 22, 2025, petition to cancel the legal heirship certificate.
- The order was issued while disposing of Kapoor’s writ petition seeking action on his representation.
Decisions
- Court directed Tambaram Tahsildar to rule on cancellation of legal heirship certificate within four weeks.
Action Items
- September 22, 2025 – Tambaram Tahsildar: Decide whether to cancel the disputed legal heirship certificate as per court directive.