A Filipino-Indian businessman has filed a perjury case against his brother for allegedly making false accusations in a complaint that accused the former of having falsified documents concerning properties that their family members owned.

The complaint was filed by Rajiv P. Chandiramani on Monday, Oct. 2, before the Manila Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) against his brother, Amith P. Chandiramani, for alleged violation of Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

Rajiv’s complaint was filed after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), on behalf of Amith, filed last August a complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for alleged falsification of public documents against Rajiv, his mother Singaprean Pushpa, and six other persons. 

Rajiv claimed that Amith’s complaint was a revival of the charge the latter filed before the Makati City OCP that “alleged that Rajiv conspired with their mother to falsify the signature of their deceased father as appearing on several sale and mortgage documents.”

“Amith knew that had earlier filed an identical complaint for Falsification of Public Documents against the same respondents - Rajiv, their mother Pushpa, and several other respondents, which was earlier dismissed by the Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati City. Thus, Amith made an untruthful statement when he answered “No” in the Investigation Data Form to the question - ‘Has a similar complaint filed before any other office?’” Rajiv said.

He also said that “Amith also lied when he certified under oath that he has ‘not commenced any action or filed any claim involving the same issues in any court, tribunal or quasi-judicial agency’ and that he violated his undertaking to ‘report that fact to the Honorable Office within five (5) days from knowledge thereof’.”

“Amith still had the legal obligation to disclose the previous filing and dismissal of the falsification complaint,” Rajiv pointed out.

He cited that when Amith filed the complaint before the Makati OCP, a compromise deal was reached with his brother.

“In order to obviate further litigation, for peace of mind and safety, and upon the persuasion of family members, Rajiv agreed to a compromise with Amith,” he said. 

As part of the agreement, Rajiv said he bound himself to pay Amith a total amount of P150 million.

“The Compromise Agreement contains waiver and quitclaim stipulations made by Amith as well as an affirmation clause whereby Amith acknowledged the ownership of and the better right of Rajiv over the properties listed in the Compromise Agreement. And under paragraph 13 of the Compromise Agreement, Amith obligated himself not to ‘revive or indirectly all the aforementioned Cases xxx upon its dismissal by the courts or prosecutor's office’,” Rajiv cited.

“In turn, Amith caused the withdrawal and dismissal with prejudice of the case for Falsification of Public Documents that he filed with the Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati by way of an Affidavit of Desistance dated 2 August 2022,” he added.