A daughter is taking legal action against her late father’s lodger, accusing him of creating a fraudulent will to claim her father’s entire estate worth £900,000.
This shocking claim arose after the father, Monir Shaikh, a respected solicitor from East London, passed away from Covid in April 2020, leaving behind his only child, Mosammat Khatun, but no spouse.
A month later, Khatun discovered that she had been completely excluded from the will, with all assets instead going to her father’s 36-year-old lodger, Shamim Hasan, an IT consultant.
Allegations of Forgery and Deception
Khatun’s court case alleges that Hasan entered her father’s room to obtain important documents and collaborated with a disbarred solicitor to forge a will.
Hasan and the former solicitor, Rajesh Pathania, who is 58, both deny these accusations.
Hasan insists that Shaikh considered him like a son and intended for him to inherit the estate.
During a recent High Court trial, it was revealed that Shaikh owned several properties, including a hotel in Blackpool, with his total estate valued around £900,000.
Khatun’s legal team informed Judge Caroline Shea KC that she first learned of her disinheritance a month after her father’s death.
The disputed will named Pathania as the sole executor and Hasan as the beneficiary, specifically excluding Khatun.
Her barrister, Dilan Deeljur, argued that Hasan and Pathania conspired to create a fake will and forge Shaikh’s signature.
The Nature of Their Relationship
While on the witness stand, Hasan claimed that he developed a close bond with Shaikh after assisting him with financial and personal matters starting in 2016.
He even moved into Shaikh’s house in Newham, East London, sharing living spaces.
However, Khatun’s barrister challenged Hasan’s portrayal of their relationship, stating that he was merely a paying lodger who did odd jobs for Shaikh.
Deeljur emphasized that there was no significant connection to justify inheriting Shaikh’s extensive estate, which included multiple properties.
Deeljur pointed out that after Shaikh’s passing, Hasan remained in the house and had access to his documents.
He questioned why Hasan waited until May 2020 to mention a will and alleged that Hasan had worked with Pathania to draft it based on information gained from his access to Shaikh’s papers.
Hasan countered that there were no documents left upstairs.
Questioning the Executor
Deeljur also highlighted that Shaikh had a strong relationship with his daughter, often taking her children on family outings.
He confronted Hasan, asking if there was any conceivable reason Shaikh would leave his entire estate to him.
Hasan replied that it was indeed Shaikh’s wish.
The barrister pressed on, citing evidence that showed Hasan was a paying tenant rather than a family member, questioning how Shaikh would have appointed Pathania as executor given their limited relationship.
When questioning Pathania, Deeljur suggested that the will was fraudulent and that he conspired with Hasan to profit from Shaikh’s estate.
Pathania maintained that the will was legitimate and claimed to have known Shaikh since 2008, asserting he was present when the will was signed in September 2019.
However, Deeljur produced evidence from another witness who claimed to have been dining with Shaikh that night, casting doubt on Pathania’s account.
Awaiting a Verdict
After a three-day trial, Judge Shea reserved her judgment on the case, leaving both parties in suspense over the outcome.
The case raises significant questions about the validity of the will, the integrity of those involved, and the complex dynamics of family relationships and inheritance rights.
As the legal proceedings continue, all eyes are on the court’s decision, which could determine the fate of a substantial estate and the future of familial ties.
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