DOJ junks falsification charge vs Fil-Indian billionaire

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed charges of falsification of public document filed against Filipino-Indian billionaire Rajiv Chandiramani, his mother Pushpa and five others over a dispute involving properties worth more than P1 billion.

In a 20-page resolution, the DOJ said there is a lack of probable cause to warrant the filing of the case.

Rajiv was sued by his estranged brother, Amith, for supposedly falsifying the signature of their deceased father in several sale and mortgage documents in July 2022.

The other respondents Amith named were Rajiv’s business associates Janet de Luna Cardinal, Maria Anita Turqueza, Rommel Olayber, Christina Gutierrez and Angelito Manuel.

Amith accused the respondents of conspiring to effect the illegal transfer to Rajiv of several properties and business interests worth billions of pesos that were lawfully willed to him by their father Prem before he died in December 2011.

Amith said the alleged illegal transfer and eventual sale of the properties started in 2018 or seven years after their father’s death.

In dismissing the charges, the DOJ said Amith failed to disclose in his complaint that in July 2022, he filed a complaint of falsification of public documents against Rajiv, their mother and several other respondents before the Makati prosecutor’s office involving the sale and mortgage of real properties.

Amith also did not disclose that the Makati prosecutor issued a resolution in August 2022 that deemed his complaint withdrawn after he executed an affidavit of desistance, the DOJ added.

Amith also “remained silent” on the compromise agreement that he and Rajiv entered into in August 2022 covering these real properties, according to the DOJ.

The DOJ also noted that Amith received millions of pesos from Rajiv, apart from the fact that the latter bound himself to support Amith with P600,000 monthly until the total amount of payments reached P150 million.

In its resolution, the DOJ said the compromise agreement provides a waiver and quitclaim covering any and all potential claims or rights against each other arising from, or in connection with the cases, as well as the estate of their late