Industrialist claims mediation with wife failed, HC seeks report

It seems the efforts to settle the litigation between industrialist Atulya Mafatlal and his estranged wife Sheetal have failed.

Ranjit Pawar, assistant of Sayaji Nangre — counsel for Atulya’s mother Madhuri, his brother Ajay and sisters Kunti Shah and Gayatri Zaveri — informed the high court on Monday, that the mediation has failed.

But, a division bench of justice VM Kanade and justice PD Kode asked for a report to that effect from the mediator, senior counsel Rafiq Dada.

Zulfi Memon of MZM Legal that represents Sheetal, told DNA that the mediation was still on. “There are disagreements in every mediation, that doesn’t mean it has failed.”

“Only a mediator can submit a report and inform the court whether the mediation has failed or succeeded. We feel that such a statement was made with an ulterior motive.”

But, Nangre insisted they have received written communication from Atulya’s counsel following which the statement was made in court. “The matter requires the court’s decision,” he said.

If the mediation has failed between the two parties, the dispute will have to be decided upon by the high court.

In 2011, the court appointed Dada as mediator between the couple to help settle the dispute amicably while hearing two petitions — one filed by Atulya’s daughter Marushka seeking the FIR lodged by Sheetal against her for harassment to be quashed and another filed by a private investments firm owned by Atulya seeking CID inquiry against Sheetal for theft of a painting worth Rs2 crore.