Baba Kalyani, the chairman and managing director of Bharat Forge, has agreed to meet with his brother and sister to discuss the construction of a Samadhi, or memorial, for their late mother, Sulochana Kalyani, amid ongoing disputes over the division of the Kalyani Group’s assets. This decision follows a court hearing on February 13, where Baba Kalyani’s legal representative indicated his willingness to engage with his siblings to resolve the memorial issue amicably. The meeting is set for February 20.
The conflict began when Baba’s sister, Sugandha Hiremath, approached a Pune court earlier this month, seeking an order to allow the construction of a Samadhi for their mother on a land parcel in Keshav Nagar, Pune. Sugandha’s lawsuit claimed that the land was acquired during their father Neelkanth Kalyani’s lifetime with the intention of serving as the family’s final resting place. She stated that Baba initially rejected her request to build their mother’s Samadhi next to their father’s, which led to the legal dispute.
In her suit, Sugandha argued that it was their mother’s final wish to be buried alongside her husband. Sulochana Kalyani passed away on February 25, 2023. Sugandha asserted that her mother had always expressed a desire to be interred next to her husband, a wish that was not fulfilled after her death. As a member of the Lingayat community, Sugandha requested that her mother’s remains be interred in a sitting, meditative position according to their traditions, rather than being cremated.
Baba Kalyani, in a letter dated December 25, 2024, explained that the family had followed the necessary rituals in consultation with their family priest, yet Sugandha proceeded with the lawsuit. On Thursday, Baba Kalyani’s counsel informed the court of his openness to discuss the matter with his siblings. His lawyers conveyed his willingness to meet with Sugandha and their brother Gaurishankar to consult the family priest regarding the rituals needed to establish their mother’s Samadhi. The meeting was proposed for February 20, and all parties agreed to the date.
Baba Kalyani’s counsel emphasized that he seeks a resolution that aligns with the family’s collective interests and religious beliefs. “Our client, Baba Kalyani, believes that sensitive issues related to personal and religious beliefs should be resolved among the three siblings. He is confident that good conscience will prevail and that the matter can be resolved promptly,” stated Kalyani’s lawyer. Sugandha’s suit highlighted Baba’s refusal to allow their mother’s memorial to be constructed as she wished.
