Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has refused amicable settlement with estranged brother Jaidev over the dispute of late Bal Thackeray's will. Uddhav said Jaidev's allegations against him and his father has caused "lot of bitterness".
He, however, sought more time to think over court's proposal of settlement.
On a query from justice Gautam Patel, Uddhav's counsel Rajesh Shah said, "We need some more time (to think about this). Let us keep this option open and move ahead."
"They (Uddhav and family) are more worried about the allegations made against the deceased (senior Thackeray). That has caused lot of bitterness among the petitioners," he added.
Jaidev's counsel Seema Sarnaik said it was not necessary to drag this matter in public.
After Uddhav expressed unwillingness to settle, justice Patel suggested two options — having an in-camera meeting between the parties for reaching a settlement, or appointing a mediator by mutual consent.
"If I can be of assistance, we can have an in-camera meeting. All the records of the meeting and the settlement will be sealed. The terms of settlement will not be disclosed. This (settlement) will be in the larger interest of both the parties," the judge said.
"There may a possibility of one person both parties trust and know intimately (who will mediate). He will resolve the issue and try to persuade them."
The judge also said if the parties refused settlement, they were looking at long trials and appeals before higher court with unpredictable outcome. "If the defendant (Jaidev) succeeds, the consequences will be unimaginable for you (Uddhav). Similar is the case for him. It won't end here (either party who does not succeed will challenge it before higher court)," said justice Patel.
The judge even noted that Jaidev doesn't have political aspirations and had made the allegations as he was aggrieved. "If a certain largeness of heart is shown, everybody will go home," he added, asking the two parties how much of their personal life they want dragged out in public.
At this time, Uddhav's counsel sought more time to think about amicable settlement.
The HC has kept the matter for hearing on January 6, 2015.
Senior Thackeray, who passed away on November 17, 2012, left a majority of his estate to Uddhav, and not a farthing to estranged son Jaidev, who has challenged the probate petition filed by Uddhav and alleged that senior Thackeray was not in sound mind while executing the will.
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