Filipino-Indian billionaire Rajiv Chandiramani has asked the Department of Justice to junk the complaint against him for multiple counts of falsification of public documents filed by his estranged brother for being "baseless, contrived, and manufactured."
Rajiv, in his 25-page counter-affidavit filed through his counsel, denied committing any falsification in order to take control of the more than P1 billion worth of properties left behind by their father Prem Chandiraman following his death in 2011.
He claimed that the falsification complaint was merely resurrected by his brother to pressure him to give in to the latter's demands for more money after their initial compromise agreement in 2022.
"By re-filing the complaint for falsification of documents as against Rajiv, Amith has violated his waiver and quitclaim. In the regime of law and order, repudiation of an agreement validly entered into cannot be made without any ground or reason in law or in fact for such repudiation," Rajiv said.
Contrary to his brother's claim, Rajiv recounted that because of his business ethics, he was able to establish a good business reputation in the business community, particularly in the Filipino-Indian community.
Rajiv is the owner of Rheana's Trading Inc., which is one of the leading domestic companies engaged in the business of buying, selling, distributing, and importing electronic products and accessories.
While his older brother, according to Rajiv, got hooked on illegal drugs and was confined in several drug rehabilitation facilities.
Rajiv said his brother, in 2020, was released from a drug facility and then stayed in Dubai.
A year after, Rajiv claimed there were several defamatory messages against him that were being circulated among relatives, friends, and colleagues, particularly, that he had allegedly falsified several sale documents.
With this, Rajiv conducted his own personal investigation and was convinced that these defamatory messages originated from Amith.
"It eventually became apparent that Amith started these malicious rumors as he wanted additional monies from Rajiv and their mother," Rajiv said.
Rajiv initially sought redress before the courts by filing a complaint for damages with an injunction against Amith to prevent and dissuade him from continuously spreading malicious allegations against him.
He also filed a criminal complaint for cyber libel against Amith.
Meanwhile, Amith, in July 2022, filed a criminal complaint for falsification of public documents against Rajiv and their mother and several other respondents before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati City.
He alleged that Rajiv conspired with their mother to falsify the signature of their deceased father as appearing on several sale documents.
In order to end their rift and upon persuasion of family members, Rajiv said he agreed to a compromise with Amith, which led to the mutual withdrawal of the cases that were filed against each other at that time.
The agreement also provides a waiver and quitclaim covering any and all potential claims or rights against each other arising from, or in connection with the cases, as well as the estate of their late father.
Rajiv, as part of the consideration for the compromise agreement, bound himself to pay Amith the total amount of P150 million by way of support.
Rajiv said he has been complying with his contractual undertakings in providing Amith with monthly support of Php600,000, including giving financial assistance for Amith to put up his own electronics trading business. But was surprised to learn that Amith violated their agreement by resurrecting the falsification complaint against him.
Amith in his complaint, claimed that Rajiv, their mother Pushpa Chandiramani, and several others connived in depriving him of his inheritance from their father Prem, amounting to billions of pesos in the form of real estate properties and business interests.
Among the properties that he claimed were illegally taken from him by Rajiv and his cohorts was a prime 1,559 square-meter lot in Cubao, Quezon City with Transfer Certificate of Title No.46459.
But the camp of Rajiv maintained that the compromise agreement entered into by him and Amith is a valid and enforceable contract; thus, the latter is barred from filing a falsification of public documents complaint.
"The act of Amith in re-filing or reviving the Complaint for Falsification of Documents with the NBI is a violation of the compromise agreement, and his desistance, waiver, and quitclaim undertakings," Rajiv said.
He disclosed that he has filed a formal complaint for specific performance and damages seeking to compel Amith to comply with the provisions of the compromise agreement and the waiver and quitclaim.
Presently, the complaint is pending with the Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Branch 145.
