Mumbai: In a classic case of "riches to rags", former business tycoon Vijaypat Singhania is now sustaining on a hand-to-mouth existence.

By his own admission, he has been reduced to such a distraught state by his own son Gautam Singhania. Ironically, Vijaypat had given all his shares in the company estimated at over Rs 1,000 crore to Gautam. As on date, the 78-year-old former businessman is fighting court battle to get a flat in a building that was once owned by Raymond.

He filed a petition in the Bombay High Court seeking possession of a duplex in the redeveloped 36-storey JK House on Malabar Hill. However, his lawyer told the court on Wednesday that the retired tycoon was struggling financially. The lawyer said that while Vijayat gave away all his wealth to his son, the son is now driving "him out of everything." They are trying to squeeze Dr Singhania out of everything. All his perks - like a car and a driver -- have been taken away, the lawyer said.

JK House was a 14-storey structure when it was unveiled in 1960. Four duplexes in the building were later handed over to a Raymond subsidiary Pashmina Holdings. In 2007, the company decided to go in for redevelopment. As per the deal Dr Singhania and Gautam; Veenadevi, widow of Dr Singhania's brother Ajaypat Singhania; and her sons Anant and Akshaypat were to get a 5,185 sq ft duplex each in the new building on a payment of Rs 9,000 per sq ft. Already, Veenadevi and Anant have filed a joint petition, while Akshaypat has submitted an independent petition, in the Bombay High Court staking claim to their apartments.

The court passed an injunction order with respect to the duplex claimed by Dr Singhania and asked Raymond to file its reply by August 18, while scheduling the next hearing for August 22.