Judge in Radisson Blu Edwardian case moves court to May Fair hotel

One of the country's senior judges will next week swap the utilitarian surroundings of a Rolls Building courtroom for the five star splendour of London's May Fair hotel near London's Berkeley Square.

Sir William Blackburne is taking the usual step of relocating a trial in which one of the richest Asian businessmen in Britain is locked in a battle with his father over the family wealth to a conference room in the hotel, so that the elderly claimant can give his evidence in more comfortable surroundings.

Mr Singh, who requires 24-hour care, will instead take to the stand in a conference room at the hotel, which is planned to be arranged to resemble the layout of Court 23 at the Rolls Building. However, the judge was told today that it is unlikely he will be able to be elevated to hear the evidence.

Jasminder is said to be worth around £415 million. But the court claim is said to be worth about £50m.

However, the father claims the case is not about the money but rather about tradition and his son's failure to abide by the "Mitakshara" system from Sikh and Hindu traditions which implies a sharing of family wealth.

The judge is being asked to decide as a preliminary issue, if the family property is subject to any constructive trust under English law, and if so what the terms of such a trust were.

If he decides that such a trust is binding there would be another trial to decide how much is due, if agreement cannot be reached.

The hearing continues.