Italy’s Court of Cassation has finalized the dismissal of charges against Lapo and Ginevra Elkann, alongside Swiss notary Urs Von Gruenigen, in the high-profile investigation into alleged tax irregularities tied to the estate of Marella Caracciolo, widow of the late Fiat patriarch Gianni Agnelli. The ruling, initially requested by prosecutors and validated by a preliminary investigations judge (GIP), hinges on a "defect of the psychological element", meaning the siblings lacked the necessary criminal awareness or intent. Lapo and Ginevra were under investigation for defrauding the state over unpaid inheritance taxes following their grandmother’s death in 2019. Judges also cleared the Swiss notary who drafted the will, concluding he was "misled" and used as an unwitting tool.

The legal battle stems from a formal complaint filed by Margherita Agnelli, daughter of Marella and mother of the Elkann siblings. Prosecutors had alleged a coordinated effort to falsely claim the Agnelli widow was residing in Switzerland, whereas evidence suggested she permanently lived in Turin during her final years, a move allegedly designed to evade Italian taxes.

The situation remains starkly different for John Elkann, CEO of Exor, and family accountant Gianluca Ferrero. The GIP rejected their bids for judicial probation and plea bargains, ruling that both were fully aware of the tax benefits derived from the alleged offshore residency scheme. Both are scheduled to face a preliminary hearing on September 11. Defense lawyers for John Elkann maintain they will prove their client’s total innocence.