Singhania vs Singhania: Vijaypat Singhania suffers chest pain, hospitalised

MUMBAI: Barely a week after he had moved court to prevent his son from leaving him roofless in Mumbai, founder of Raymond, Dr Vijaypat Singhania, suffered severe chest pain and had to be hospitalized on Thursday. Doctors at Breach Candy hospital said he had to be admitted as his "parameters'' were not normal and required immediate attention and investigation. Singhania, who will turn 79 in October, had undergone a coronary bypass surgery in London in March.

On Thursday, while at a South Mumbai club, he felt severe pain and was rushed around 6.30 pm to hospital, where Dr Hemant Thacker examined him and placed him in the high dependency unit. The doctor wants to keep him under observation for 48 hours as his blood pressure was high. Dr Thacker confirmed that Singhania was under his care. He said his condition was "stable''. Dr Thacker had spotted heart blockages when Singhania had visited him earlier this year with chest pain.

The Padma Bhushan awardee had knocked at the doors of Bombay high court as he felt "helpless'' at his son Gautam's "high-handedness". His legal team argued that Gautam, now chairperson of Raymond, withdrew his staff and car, and was denying him rental money for a home despite a 2007 agreement over redevelopment of J K House till he is given permanent alternate accommodation as its old tenant. The company, which Vijaypat, as its chairperson emeritus, had given to Gautam in February 2015, said the new Companies Act was the impediment, but Justice Girish Kulkarni had after the hearing on August 8, said, "Considering the peculiar nature of the controversy, it would be appropriate that the parties make an endeavour to resolve the issues and bring about a settlement." The court had on the company's request allowed it to file a reply by August 18 and posted the matter for further hearing to August 22. But on Wednesday, on a plea from the company for more time to file its affidavit, the matter was adjourned to September 4.

Singhania had told TOI last Thursday that he regretted not spending more time with his children when they were younger. His wife Asha and daughter's family rushed to the hospital.