In a simmering battle over who should own the brand and assets of iconic fashion designer Rohit Bal, who died on November 1 following heart-related complications, his stepbrother Rajiv Bal and his friend of 22 years, Lalit Tehlan, are crossing swords over the designer’s purported will.
Refusing to confirm or deny if Rohit Bal had left a will bequeathing all he had to him as immediate family, Rajiv told The Indian Express, “I have no comments on a will. Lalit Tehlan has claimed he has a document that nobody has seen yet. Let him present it before everybody and then we will seek legal recourse. As far as I am concerned, he is a stranger to the family.”
“I continue to be a director of Rohit Bal Designs Private Limited. Our creative heads are continuing their business as it always was. We are busy getting orders this wedding season,” he added. He also refused to share if Rohit had discussed the future of his business with him in his last days.
Tehlan maintained that Rohit owned 99% of Rohit Bal Designs Private Limited while Rajiv owned 1%. Tehlan is claiming his right as successor to the brand and assets that include two floors in Defence Colony, a factory in Noida, some land, artworks and artefacts. Sources said the land value itself is valued at no less than Rs 100 crore.
Rajiv, meanwhile, also dismissed the claims of Tehlan as founder of one of the sub-brands of Rohit Bal Fashion, Alexander Jeans. “The label is Alexander Jeans by Rohit Bal and Tehlan has nothing to do with it,” he reiterated.
Tehlan, however, said he is ready to show evidence if required. “It’s not like Gudda (Rohit) has left everything to one person. He also protected some of his weavers, who have been with him for 45 years, provisioning handsome amounts for them so that they are taken care of,” he added.
As to whether he can call himself founder of the Alexander Jeans label, Tehlan said, “I got Alexander Jeans for Rohit Bal Fashion and was part of all business discussions. So, when the Reliance group wanted to invest in it, Gudda said since I had got the account, I could grow it. But he was very particular about not letting corporates take over his core brand.”
On charges that he was not the right inheritor of Bal’s legacy, he said, “I was a 17-year-old boxer in Shahpur Jat who had no idea about fashion. Rohit Bal spotted me, turned me into his model and assured my parents that he would look out for me. Do you think I will ever forget that? I understand Gudda’s vision and would never sell out his work. In fact, now that he has gone, I am ready to do anything to carry the brand legacy forward. Rajivji has experience in fashion exports and I do not mind working with him and synergising strengths.”
Tehlan’s lawyer Gurmukh Choudhri said the document, which reportedly has the signature of Bal and witnesses, “appears to be valid”. Although Tehlan has claimed he has photographic evidence of the sign-off, his lawyer said he has not seen it yet.
Sunil Sethi, the Fashion Design Council of India chief and long-time friend of Rohit, has been named as executor of the will, claimed Tehlan.
“When Tehlan and his lawyer told me (about the will), I immediately called Rajiv. I have not yet seen the will but Tehlan and his lawyer have been only too willing to show it to me. I am committed to following the due process of law,” Sethi said.
“If both sides have what they claim to have, these should be probated (a legal process that confirms the validity of a will and gives the executor the authority to manage the deceased person’s assets) first. Only then can we sit with family, friends and witnesses and go by what the court says on the matter,” he added
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