Luxury heir, who promised Rs 10,000 crore to gardener, says money has ‘vanished’
Paris: French billionaire Nicolas Puech, who is a descendent of the fashion giant Thierry Hermes, has made headlines by claiming that half of his wealth, which he had promised to leave to his former gardener last year, has suddenly disappeared.
The 81-year-old had also made headlines in 2023 after he revealed his plan to adopt his former gardener and handyman, intending to give him a significant portion of his wealth, but Puech has now stated in court that up to 6 million of his shares, valued at approximately $13 billion (Rs 10,000 crore), have vanished. Also, reports have stated that the fifth-generation heir to the fashion company has blamed his financial manager, who worked with him for over two decades, for the loss of shares.
A Swiss court, however, has rejected his suit on grounds of the allegations lacking clarity and also being insufficiently backed up, explaining that Puech had no evidence for his claim of a ‘gigantic fraud’ by his former wealth manager.
Puech, who is single and has no children, is one of the heirs to the French luxury design house. Several reports suggest that feuds with family members might have influenced Puech’s unconventional choice of heir – his 51-year-old former gardener from Morocco, who is married to a Spanish woman and has two children.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
'Strong evidence' available against Saif attacker, police tell court while opposing his bail plea
Mumbai, Jul 25 (PTI): Police have opposed the bail plea of the Bangladeshi national arrested for allegedly stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan with a knife and injuring him at his home here in January this year, telling a Mumbai court there was "strong evidence" against the accused.
Citing a Forensic Science Laboratory report, police reiterated before the sessions court their earlier claim knife fragments that got lodged near the actor's spine during the attack as well as a part found at the crime spot have matched with the weapon recovered from the accused, Shariful Islam.
These three pieces were part of the same weapon (knife) used to attack the filmstar, the police said in a written response to the accused's plea submitted in the court on Thursday (July 24).
Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra on January 16 during a robbery attempt.
The 54-year-old actor underwent surgery at Lilavati Hospital to remove a piece of knife that got lodged near his spine during the attack. He was discharged from the private hospital after five days.
Shariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested two days later for allegedly stabbing Khan.
The police, in their response, highlighted that the accused is a Bangladeshi citizen residing illegally in India.
If granted bail, there was a possibility that he may flee India and not appear before the court during the trial. The crime committed by the accused is of a "very serious nature, and strong evidence" is available against him, they argued.
In his bail plea, filed through advocate Vipul Dushing, the accused asserted he was innocent and had no prior criminal record.
Investigation into the case has practically concluded with only the filing of a chargesheet pending, the accused contended while seeking bail.
The alleged attacker has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections related to house trespass, robbery and dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous injury.
