In a new twist to the ongoing family inheritance dispute of the Oberoi Group, Natasha Oberoi, the daughter of late hotelier PRS Oberoi, has now moved the Delhi High Court seeking to restrain Tejasvi Dixit from representing the hotel company in courts and legal matters.

Natasha has alleged that Dixit allegedly “a stranger” has been unlawfully delegated authority by her brother Vikramajit Singh Oberoi, CEO of The Oberoi Group, and cousin Arjun Singh Oberoi, executive chairman of The Oberoi Group to “orchestrate undue gains by hijacking the representation of the company in the bypassing the board of directors and abdicating their fiduciary responsibilities.”

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav will hear the case on Friday.

Last year, Anastasia Oberoi, the late PRS Oberoi’s daughter by Mirjana Jojic Oberoi, had moved the HC, alleging that stepbrother Vikramajit, stepsister Natasha and cousin Arjun were attempting to obstruct the execution of her father's will.

At the centre of the dispute are two wills, said to have been drawn up by PRS Oberoi.

One of the wills dated October 25, 2021, along with an August 27, 2022, codicil has been presented by Anastasia as the final testament of PRS Oberoi, former executive chairman of EIH Ltd, claiming that it confirms her rightful share, along with certain trusts, to the assets and properties listed in the documents.

This 2021 will is also now being supported by Natasha, saying it to be the last will. She in her petition said that the estate of PRS Oberoi includes substantial shares of the company, wherein she and her stepsister Anastasia are the primary legatees (who are the biggest beneficiaries).

People familiar with the matter said Vikramajit did not accept the will and codicil on the basis that it doesn’t reflect the wishes of the late MS Oberoi, the father of PRS Oberoi and the group’s founder.

Vikramajit Oberoi had submitted a will of March 20, 1992, drawn up by PRS Oberoi and claims that the latter did not have any right, title or interest in the shares held by him (Vikramjit) in Oberoi Hotels. The shares of Oberoi Hotels and Oberoi Properties were held by the testator (PRS Oberoi) in trust for Vikramjit and Arjun and were to devolve upon his death of the testator, Vikram Oberoi has claimed.

Natasha in her petition alleged that Rajaraman Shankar, who is one of the executors of the last will of PRS Oberoi and also an opposite party in the Anastasia’s petition, in his reply to the court directly contradicted his position by representing himself as the executor of the will and also as a director of the company.

She stated that the June 6 resolution unlawfully bypasses the Articles of Association of the company and delegates the legal matters to a Dixit, who has no connection with the Oberoi Hotels, thereby compromising its governance, legal autonomy and statutory compliance. “The omnibus authority granted to Dixit sans any checks and balances has been designed to enable him to wield great powers with no responsibility,” according to the petition.

Natasha has sought interim stay on the implementation of the impugned resolution that wrongfully vested “broad and omnibus power in a stranger, pending the completion of arbitration proceedings and passing of an award.”

In September last year, the HC, on Anastasia’s petition against her siblings and cousin, in an interim order, had directed that shares in EIH Ltd, Oberoi Hotels and Oberoi Properties that were held by the late PRS Oberoi can’t change hands.

The court said the interest of Anastasia and her mother can be protected by restraining the three executors of the will--Rajaraman Shankar, Daniel Lee Farrugia and Natasha Oberoi--and others from transferring or transmitting any shares in EIH Ltd, Oberoi Hotels and Oberoi Properties held by the testator (PRS Oberoi) except one Class-A share in Oberoi Hotels and Oberoi Properties each to Shankar.