NRI steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and his family on Thursday dismissed as "baseless" the claim made by Adina Kohn, a property consultant for a 350,000-pounds commission for the 70-million pounds mansion purchased by them recently and said they would contest it in the court.
"The Mittal family has received positive legal advice from lawyers Macfarlanes and believe that Adina Kohn's claim for payment of commission is baseless. The Mittal family intends to defend the proceedings issued by Adina Kohn vigorously," a statement from the Mittal family said.
Legal proceedings lodged a few days ago by Adina Kohn, a property consultant to the rich and famous, accuse Mittal and his wife of attempting to 'save money' in a time-honoured fashion -- by cutting out middleman's commission.
Kohn claimed she gave details of the 15-bedroom mansion at 18/19 Kensington Palace Gardens to the Mittals in 1997 and accused the family of going "behind her back" when they purchased the mansion from the Formula One millionaire, Bernie Ecclestone, this year.
Clarifying their position, the Mittal family said: "Adina Kohn showed the Mittal Family a number of houses in London earlier this year. However 18/19 Kensington Palace Gardens -- the house subsequently purchased by the Mittal Family -- was not one of them.
"Adina Kohn's claim is based on the fact that she had shown the Mittal family around 18/19 Kensington Palace Gardens in 1997," the statement said.
The house was introduced to the Mittals by another property agent this year and this introduction led to the ultimate purchase of the property," it said.