Mallika Srinivasan and Lakshmi Venu push for settlement as TVS relatives file court caveats

Mallika Srinivasan, chairperson and MD of Tractor Farm Equipment Ltd (TAFE), and her daughter Lakshmi Venu announced a wish for an amicable family settlement while other TVS members lodged caveats in Chennai courts. On October 12 and 13, Venu Srinivasan, chairman emeritus of TVS Motor Company, his wife Mallika, and their children Lakshmi and Sudarshan each filed four caveats – two in the City Civil Court and two in the Commercial Court – signalling preparation for possible litigation. The filings split the family into two camps: Venu Srinivasan and son Sudarshan Venu on one side, and Mallika Srinivasan with daughter Lakshmi Venu on the other, each seeking to protect their interests. A spokesperson reiterated Mallika and Lakshmi’s call for “transparent discussions and dialogue” to resolve the dispute, stressing that they still prefer talks over court battles. The dispute stems from the 2020 TVS family partition, which addressed management roles but left the economic ownership within the Venu Srinivasan branch unsettled. Mallika clarified that TAFE, part of the Amalgamations Group where she holds shares, is unrelated to the family’s economic settlement. Lakshmi, who also serves as ED‑MD of Sundaram‑Clayton, echoed that the core issue is fair recognition of rightful economic ownership, not management positions. ## Context The family split reflects a broader trend of Indian conglomerates facing internal succession and wealth‑division challenges, where legal safeguards like caveats are used to ensure parties can be heard before any court order affecting their stakes is made.