Modi Vs Modi: Godfrey Phillips India Chairperson, Lalit Bhasin Off the Hook in Assault Case

Godfrey Phillips India’s chairperson Bina Modi and former director Lalit Bhasin have not been charged in a case of conspiracy to assault the company’s former director Samir Modi at a board meeting in 2024. The two are suspects in the case but have not been charged because of lack of evidence, the Economic Times reported, citing official sources. 

In the case, the Delhi police have only filed a charge sheet against Bina Modi’s personal security officer (PSO), Surendra Prasad. While the police reportedly said that the investigation had been completed, Samir Modi’s lawyer, Simran Singh, contested that Bina Modi had not been excused from the charges. 

“There is sufficient evidence on record against Mrs Bina Modi for internationally aiding and abetting her PSO in wrongful restrain and also common intention with him to not only restrain Samir Modi from entering the meeting room but also voluntarily causing assault and grievous hurt to Samir Modi in that process,” Singh told ET.

Also Read: Family Feud V: The Modis

Modi vs Modi: Case’s Background 

A FIR was lodged by Samir Modi, son of Bina Modi, at Delhi’s Sarita Vihar police station last year. Samir contested that he was assaulted by Bina Modi’s PSO at Godfrey Phillips India’s board meeting on May 31 last year. After a nearly year-long investigation, a final charge sheet was prepared by Delhi Police.  

This further makes the matter bitter for the mother-son duo, who are already up against each other in an inheritance battle. Samir, former executive director with Godfrey Phillips India, was dismissed from the company’s board. Thereafter, he accused his mother, Bina Modi, of not carrying out distribution of family wealth in accordance with the trust deed by the family patriarch, the late KK Modi. 

“I was a great guy under my father’s tutelage...Suddenly because I am opposing and asking questions, I am being ousted,” Samir Modi had earlier told Business Today. The company planned to sell its retail business under the 24Seven brand, and all I wanted to know was why we were shutting it down, he added.