Mombasa court orders family to share property with grandson

Nirmal Singh

The multi-billion estate of the late Mombasa tycoon Dalip Singh Dhanjal who died in 2010 will now be shared equally among his two children and grandson.

This brings to close years of Court battles between his daughter, Jaswinder Kaur Koundu and son Nirmal Dhanjal. Justice John Oneyiego said the multi billion shilling estate should be shared out amongst the two siblings and their nephew.

“Having gone through the ownership documents on support of the assets listed under category A, I am satisfied that whose ownership is clear that the estate is to be shared out between three beneficiaries in equal measure” Judge Onyiego said. However, the minor’s share will be held in trust for his benefit until he attains the age of maturity. Travellers Beach Hotel is amongst the many assets owned by the late Dalip Singh Dhanjal. The recent judgement now puts the hotels ownership in contention. The late Dalip Singh Dhanjal died in July 2010 and his son Nirmal, current chairman of Mombasa’s Sikh Temple, deceived the Court by claiming to be the sole survivor of his late father, then fraudulently petitioned for a grant of representation culminating to the issuance of grant of letters of administration intestate to him in 2013. In 2016, Jaswinder Kaur Koundu, sought revocation of the grant on grounds that the the said grant was obtained fraudulently and through concealment of material information. She claimed that her brother did not disclose to the Court that she was also a beneficiary of the estate and therefore ought to have been consulted or her consent sought. In 2018 by consent, both siblings revoked the grant and the Court issued a fresh grant to the two siblings and Nirmal was ordered to provide a full and accurate account of the estate since December 2012 to date of the consent. This was never received. Their cousins Sukhwant Kundi and Joginder Dhanjal asked to be enjoined in the matter as administrators. They argued that some of the properties listed in the succession were co-owned by their late father. The Court dismissed the application by the cousins. It is hoped that this ruling will now bring closure to all those involved.