Priyamvada wasn't in her senses...: Birlas

The Birlas on Thursday informed the Calcutta High Court that Priyamvada Birla was suffering from several debilitating diseases and not in firm health as claimed by Rajendra S Lodha who asserted she had made the 1999 'will' in his favour in her full senses.

Priyamvada had a kidney transplant and such patients have to take strong medication for years, which makes them drowsy, Samaraditya Pal, counsel for the Birlas claimed before Justice K J Sengupta.

Priyamvada also had to use a wheel chair due to other illnesses, Pal claimed, questioning the circumstances in which she could make the 'will' in favour of Lodha in her full senses.

Lodha has sought probate of the 1999 'will' vide which she has purportedly bequeathed all the assets of the M P Birla group, worth Rs 5000 crore (Rs 50 billion) to him.

Pal also claimed that the will was made under suspicious circumstances. Pal alleged that the main suspicion was that the 'will' saw the light of day, many years after Priyamvada's death. Hearing in the matter would continue on Friday.