Mystery man seeks details of Thackeray will dispute from HC

Justice Gautam Patel of the Bombay High Court has expressed shock and displeasure after an unidentified person visited his chamber seeking copies of the evidence recorded in the ongoing dispute over the will of late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

Justice Patel is hearing a suit filed by Jaidev Thackeray challenging the will of his father on the grounds that Bal Thackeray was of unsound mind and that Jaidev's brother Uddhav Thackeray had influenced him.

"Four times this person has come to my chamber. He comes asking for the notes of evidence recorded, saying he is from Sarnaik's office. My staff is also rattled. I don't know who he is collecting it for and for what purpose," Justice Patel told the Thackeray brothers' lawyers Seema Sarnaik and Rajesh Shah.

The judge wondered whether it was to gain political mileage or something else and wanted an end to it.

Jaidev's lawyer Sarnaik and Uddhav's counsel Shah assured the court that henceforth, they would issue a letter with the names of their junior lawyers who would come to collect the evidence, which should be handed over only after verifying their identity cards.

Meanwhile, in the ongoing will dispute, the court will record the evidence of senior party leader Anil Parab on June 30.

Earlier, the evidence of Lilavati Hospital doctor Jaleel Parkar, who treated Thackeray regularly in 2007-end, was recorded.

Jaidev has challenged the will of December 13, 2011 in which his father Thackeray left nothing for him.

Thackeray died on November 17, 2012 in Mumbai, bequeathing a major chunk of his estate to Uddhav.