Businessman Suresh Kantaria
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Businessman Suresh Nanalal Kantaria has returned to the High Court in an effort to stop the imminent auction of three of his properties in Nairobi.
Scheduled for auction on January 21, 2025, these assets are expected to be sold to settle outstanding maintenance support payments owed to his ex-wife Mradula raising concerns about the implications for his financial investments. The contentious relationship between Mr. Kantaria and Ms. Mradula began with their marriage on March 16, 1974, in Mombasa.
Following their relocation to Nairobi, the couple's relationship deteriorated, leading to Ms. Mradula filing for divorce in 1997, which was finalized on February 18, 1999. Subsequent legal disputes culminated in a High Court ruling that required Mr Kantaria to pay Sh100 million for his ex-wife and their daughter's maintenance.
However, a Court of Appeal decision in 2015 modified this amount to Sh350,000 per month and mandated the sale of several properties to fulfil outstanding arrears. In her recent affidavit, Ms. Mradula emphasizes the protracted nature of their legal battle, which has now lasted 27 years, with nine years passed since the Appeal Court's judgment. She alleges that Mr Kantaria has not complied with a previous court order to transfer 25 per cent of the disputed properties to her.
The properties under dispute include two residences and a plot in South C, valued collectively at Sh28 million, as well as another property located in Gigiri. Mr. Kantaria’s latest legal filing argues that the deputy registrar's ruling on November 4 to proceed with the auction overlooks his pending appeals. He warns that failure to address his application submitted on November 19 could lead to irrevocable losses concerning his investments amassed over a lifetime.
Despite Mr. Kantaria’s efforts to delay the auction, Ms. Mradula insists that any postponement would merely extend a lengthy process that has already endured for nearly three decades. She reiterates that the Court of Appeal’s ruling remains in effect, regardless of Mr. Kantaria's new legal actions. The auction will be conducted by Gikonyo of Garam Auctioneers, with part of the proceeds earmarked to settle a Sh15 million loan with Prime Bank.
The remaining funds will be managed by Harit Sheth Advocates. The matter awaits a hearing in March following a prior application from Mr Kantaria who has petitioned for an earlier court date, citing the urgency of the situation.