Brothers Battle Over Father's Will Amid Accusations of Disrespect and Financial Exploitation

A £400,000 inheritance is at the center of a legal dispute between two brothers, with accusations of disrespect, financial exploitation, and undue influence flying in court. The case involves Bani Verma, a 67-year-old taxi driver, and his younger brother, Harish Verma, a 57-year-old driving instructor.

Gowerdhan Dass, their father, died in February 2024 at the age of 89. According to a will made in November 2023, just three months before his death, his entire estate was to be divided between Harish and his wife, Paramjit. This new will supersedes an earlier one from 2015, which had stipulated an equal division of the estate among the families of Bani, Harish, and their two other siblings.

Bani Verma claims that their father was unduly influenced by Harish to alter the 2015 will. Bani's legal team alleges that Harish manipulated their elderly and vulnerable father, isolated him from other family members, and depleted his fortune before his death. Specific accusations include Harish using £18,750 of his father's money to purchase a Jaguar Land Rover for his wife.

"The father's fortune had been decimated by Harish before his death," stated Richard Buston, barrister for Bani Verma, adding that Harish and his wife had controlled the finances of their "elderly, frail and vulnerable" father in his final years.

Harish's legal team, however, contends that Bani was emotionally distant from their father and showed disrespect. Nina Roberts, representing Harish, argued that Gowerdhan Dass visited Harish daily after moving to Slough in 2010 and maintained a close relationship. Evidence presented includes Gowerdhan's mobile phone logs, which reportedly show no calls from Bani between February 2022 and his father's death in February 2024, suggesting Bani's visits were infrequent.

Ms. Roberts also highlighted an incident where Bani allegedly wore a tartan hat on the day of his father's funeral, which she described as "inappropriate" and disrespectful, particularly as neither brother has Scottish heritage. "It is submitted that this behaviour demonstrates the level of respect Bani had for the deceased in his lifetime," she told the court.

Bani's lawyers countered these claims, asserting that Harish was the one who isolated their father and controlled his finances. Mr. Buston claimed that Harish made himself a joint account holder and deliberately cut off Gowerdhan from other family and friends. The court heard allegations of seven specific cash transfers totaling approximately £41,000 made to Harish or his family, including the Jaguar purchase. Bani's team argues that Harish promoted a false narrative of abandonment to poison their father's mind against Bani and other natural beneficiaries, thereby causing the execution of the 2023 will.

Harish's side denies these allegations, with Ms. Roberts stating that Gowerdhan was mentally sharp in his final years and that there was no coercion. She described Gowerdhan as a "jolly, sociable man" with a close relationship with his younger son.

The case at Central London County Court has been adjourned for further evidence, with the proceedings set to resume later this month.