[BREAKING] Vijay Sondhi heirs file contempt petition before Delhi High Court against Rajiv Luthra, former Luthra Partners

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday took cognisance of a contempt petition filed against Founder and Managing Partner of Luthra & Luthra Law Offices Rajiv Luthra and former Partners Bobby Chandoke, Sudhir Sharma and Deepali Chandhoke [Sangeeta Sondhi and Anr v. Rajiv Luthra & Ors]. .Justice Sachin Datta took cognisance of the civil contempt petition on Thursday and listed it for hearing on August 8. Pursuant to a request made by the respondents, the matter will be taken up for chamber hearing next Monday..The contempt plea was filed by Sangeeta and Ajay Sondhi - the heirs of late Luthra Partner Vijay Sondhi - who claimed that Luthra and the others had violated an order passed by the High Court on June 1..Earlier this year, the Sondhis had moved the High Court claiming illegal apportionment of Vijay Sondhi's equity stake in the firm by the other Partners. They had also claimed that being the heirs of Sondhi, they had a right to take part in the conduct of business of the firm, as per the provisions of the Partnership Act.On June 1, the Court had referred the dispute to arbitration after mediation talks between the parties had failed. In his order, Justice Prateek Jalan had made it clear that pending the decision of the sole arbitrator, Sondhi's 20.8% stake in the firm will not be disturbed. It was also ordered that the induction of any new equity partners to the firm will be subject to the prior approval of the arbitrator, Justice Deepak Gupta. If any of the existing partners seek to resign from the partnership firm, they may do so, and the proportion of their share which would have gone to Sondhi will be maintained undisturbed, the Court had further stated..Vijay Sondhi heirs v L&L Partners: Mediation fails, Delhi High Court refers dispute to arbitration.In light of the recent dissolution of the litigation arm of the firm, the Sondhis claim that the actions of Luthra, Sharma and the Chandhokes are in violation of the High Court order of June 1.In fact, the decision to dissolve the firm was carried out with the sole purpose of defeating their rights, the Sondhis have stated..Reference is also made to the exit of Chandhoke and Sharma, who took with them the clients and staff of Sondhi to join DSK Legal..Senior Advocate Ashwini Mata along with Advocate Abhishek Rana appeared on behalf of the Sondhis.