Mafatlal family members quit mediation, Bombay HC told

The Bombay High Court was on Monday informed that while the Mafatlal family members had opted out of mediation process, industrialist Atulya Mafatlal and his estranged wife Sheetal were still on board.

The High Court, last October, had appointed senior counsel Rafiq Dada as a mediator to resolve the disputes between Sheetal, Atulya and other members of the family.

There are two petitions before the court: one filed by Atulya's daughter Marushka seeking cancellation of FIR filed by Sheetal against her for harassment, and another filed by a private investment company owned by Atulya, which seeks CID inquiry against Sheetal for theft of a painting worth Rs two crore.

Advocate Parvez Menon, Sheetal's lawyer, today told the court that mediation was on between the husband and the wife. "The mediation is at final stage and we are positive that an amicable solution would be reached," Menon said.

However, the other family members -- Atulya's mother, sister and daughter -- had walked out of the mediation process, Menon said.

The division bench of Justice VM Kanade and Justice PD Kode expressed hope that the parties would reach some amicable agreement, and remarked that they must not let minor issues come in the way of a settlement.

Sheetal has lodged a harassment case against Marushka, Atulya's sister Madhuri and mother Kunti Shah; while Marushka has lodged a complaint against Sheetal alleging theft of antiques from the Mafatlal bungalow.

The court has adjourned the matter till June.