The independent directors of Raymond Ltd have decided to seek advice from Berjis Desai, senior legal counsel, as the marital dispute between Gautam Singhania, chairman and managing director, and his wife Nawaz Modi escalates.

Nawaz Modi, who is also a director, had accused her husband of assault.

In a market filing, the five independent directors said they are monitoring the situation arising out of the feud between Singhania and Modi to ensure that it does not affect his capacity to manage the affairs and business of the company.

Disclosing that they have decided to retain Desai, who has no links with promoters or the company, the directors said while they will act dispassionately, any material development or remedial measures which impact Raymond will be communicated in a spirit of complete transparency.

“The independent directors (IDs), over the last few weeks, have been meeting and monitoring the situation so far as it affects the company and the minority shareholders; and reiterate their commitment to protect, at all times, the interests of non-promoter minority shareholders, employees and other stakeholders,” the communication said.

“The IDs are alert to ensure that the matrimonial disputes between the two promoter directors do not in any manner affect the capacity of the chairman and managing director to manage the affairs and business of the company,’’ it noted.

The five independent directors are Mukeeta Jhaveri, Ashish Kapadia, Dinesh Lal, K. Narsimha Murthy and Shiv Surinder Kumar.