‘Gautam punched, kicked me’: The shocking allegations against Raymond billionaire by estranged wife Nawaz Modi
‘Gautam punched, kicked me’: The shocking allegations against Raymond billionaire by estranged wife Nawaz Modi
Separation can be ugly. Those in public view are even under greater scrutiny. A week after Gautam Singhania, the billionaire chairman of Raymond Group, parted ways with his wife of 32 years, Nawaz Modi Singhania, allegations of domestic violence have surfaced. Modi, 53, has now accused the industrialist, 58, of assaulting her and one of their daughters. The claims have been denied by Singhania.
We take a look at the latest allegations and how the separation has unfolded.
What are Nawaz Modi’s allegations against Singhania?
According to Modi, Singhania beat up her and their daughter in a fit of rage two months ago. She said that the incident, which happened on 10 September, was one of the three instances of assault she suffered at his hands.
Talking to The Economic Times (ET) on the sidelines of her book launch, she said that during the September episode, Singhania punched, kicked and assaulted her and their elder daughter. She claims to have suffered a back injury.
Modi claimed that there was acrimony between them since last December but the assault was the last straw. The two argued over the use of a bathroom. “There are over 30 bathrooms in the house, but Gautam insisted he wanted to use the one I used. The argument escalated into an assault. He smacked and kicked me and even assaulted my daughter. My back got injured,” she told ET.
In an interview with India Today, Modi said that the incident happened at 5 am after Singhania’s birthday party. He “punched” her and their minor daughter Niharika for 15 minutes. She also claimed that Singhania “flung” her around the room several times and mother and daughter were trying to protect each other.
“…He suddenly left the scene of the attack and disappeared. I could only imagine that he was going to get his guns or weapons,” she told India Today.
According to Modi, Niharika wanted to call the police and her father told her that “the cops are not going to help you”. “Everyone is in my pocket,” Singhania reportedly told her daughter. However, a non-cognisable complaint was later registered.
Modi said that she was admitted to a hospital and after the incident, left the house with her two daughters. She has been living with her parents. “I have been pursuing legal recourse, the exact details of which I cannot share now. The lawyers on both sides have been trying to reach a settlement and I have been only asking what’s fair and just for me and my kids,” she is quoted as saying by ET.
What has Singhania said?
Legal sources close to Singhania said that he is likely to seek legal action in the face of the allegations, reports ET. “In the interest of my two beautiful daughters, I would like to maintain my family’s dignity and I will refrain from offering any comment. Please respect my privacy.”
How did the Gautam Singhania separation become public?
The differences between Singhania and Modi came to light when videos of her being denied entry to a Diwali party went viral.
On 13 November, Singhania announced separation from his wife. “This Diwali is not going to be the same as many in the past. It is my belief that Nawaz and I will pursue different paths from here on,” Singhania said in social media posts.
“32 years of being together as a couple, growing as parents and always being a strength of each other… we traversed with commitment, resolve, faith as along came the two most beautiful additions in our lives,” he said.
— Gautam Singhania (@SinghaniaGautam) November 13, 2023
Modi in her interview said that the two have been having trouble since December 2022.
According to a report in ET last week, Modi has sought 75 per cent of Singhania’s $1.4 billion (Rs Rs 11,665 crore) net worth for herself and their two daughters as part of a family settlement. He has offered to set up a trust to hold the family’s assets of which he would be the sole trustee until he is alive. These would be bequeathed to family members upon his demise.
Modi told the publication that she was seeking financial security for her daughters. “In the past, he has claimed that the three of us would get 33.3% each ... he could keep 25% and give us the rest. What I am seeking is in the capacity of a mother to my daughter... as their legal guardian securing their and my dues,” she is quoted as saying by ET.
The separation has been bad news even for Raymonds, the world’s biggest producer of suit fabric. Its stock has been falling for seven days as the fight between the couple made investors uncertain.
The stock has tumbled 12 per cent since 13 November, when Singhania announced separation, reports Bloomberg. According to a Raymond board member, the news erased more than $180 million (Rs 1,500 crore) in market value. The shares fell as much as 4.4 per cent on Wednesday, the report says, the biggest drop since 25 October.
What do we know about Nawaz Modi?
Nawaz Modi is the daughter of solicitor Nadar Modi. She married Singhania in 1999 after eight years of courtship. She was then 29 years old.
Modi is a fitness coach and runs a chain of fitness centres called BodyArt, which reportedly includes high-profile members like Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s wife Amruta Fadnavis, cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, and actor Lisa Ray, according to her profile on publishing house Penguin’s website.
She is one of the earliest aerobics and wellness experts from south Mumbai. She is also popular on Instagram with 2 lakh followers and often shares videos related to nutrition. According to her Instagram bio, she is a columnist in magazines and newspapers.
Modi recently launched a book titled ‘Pause, Rewind: Natural Anti-Ageing Techniques’, which talks about the role of fitness, nutrition and good mental health in ageing.
She is on the board of directors of Raymond Ltd.
With inputs from agencies
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