DOJ dismisses complaint vs. Fil-Indian businessman, others

Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors have dismissed a complaint filed against Filipino-Indian businessman Rajiv Chandiramani and others by his brother in connection with the transfer and sale of their properties. 

In a 20-page resolution, the DOJ dismissed the complaint against Rajiv and his mother, Pushpa Chandiramani, for falsification of public documents under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code for lack of probable cause.

The DOJ also dismissed the complaint against Janet De Luna Cardinal, Maria Anita Turqueza, Rommel Olaybar, Christina Gutierrez, and Angelito Manuel.

The complaint was filed by Rajiv’s brother, Amith Prem Chandiramani. Amith claimed he is the legitimate and compulsory heir of Prem Narandais Chandiramani, who passed away in December 2011. 

Amith said Prem left several properties to him. He accused Rajiv of conspiring with others to falsify the signature of their deceased father on several sale documents.

However, in dismissing the complaint, the DOJ said Amith failed to disclose that he already filed a similar complaint against Rajiv and others in July before the Makati City Office of the Prosecutor (OCP).

The DOJ said Amith also failed to disclose that the Makati OCP had already deemed his complaint withdrawn after he executed an affidavit of desistance.

Further, the DOJ said Amith was silent that he and Rajiv already entered into a compromise agreement over their properties in August 2022 to end their rift.

The prosecutors also said that Amith received millions of pesos from Rajiv and that Amith never denied receiving millions from Rajiv upon execution of their compromise agreement.

“The compromise agreement agreed into by Amith and Rajiv was in nature of an extrajudicial compromise agreement. Perusal of the same shows that it contains all the elements of a valid contract,” it said.

“Likewise, it has been mutually agreed upon by Amith and Rajiv without any act of force, fraud, or undue intimidation,” it added.

The DOJ further said that Amith admitted that he recognized the validity of the transfer of the properties. It said Amith also acknowledged that the transfers were made with his knowledge and consent.

It said that Amith also waived any and all rights that he may have over the estate of Prem.

“Under these circumstances, Amith cannot anymore deny that his signatures and the signatures of their deceased father appearing in the subject sale and mortgage instruments relation to the contested transfer of real properties were falsified,” the DOJ said.

“By his (Amith) own admission, action, and declaration that he recognizes the validity of transfers of the subject real properties, including the fact that the transfers were made with his knowledge and consent, his claim of falsification is effectively negated,” it added.—AOL, GMA Integrated News