The case of actress Suraiya’s missing successor is getting increasingly murky. At least three claimants yesterday appeared in court to stake claim to her estate — which includes a bungalow valued in crores at Lonavala, jewellery, and an apartment in Worli.Those staking claim comprised a cousin from Saudi Arabia, her solicitor’s daughter who says she had been adopted by Suraiya and a housing society in Mumbai. To complicate matters further, Hasina Shabir, an old friend of Suraiya,has now filed an affidavit alleging foul play in Suraiya’s death. She claims that at the time of her death, Suraiya’s legs were swollen and she appeared bruised. Demanding that the properties be given away in charity, she prayed for an inquiry to determine whether the actress died a natural death. Shabir allged that those looking after Suraiya over the last one year had not allowed anyone to come close to her.The Bombay HC has directed state Administrator General M.K. Patil to file a list of movable and immovable properties owned by the actress, which is now totally valued at close to Rs 50 crore.Amee Shah, daughter of Suraiya’s solicitor Dhimant Thakker, has moved a notice of motion claiming that Suraiya had gifted her her assets by ‘hibba’ (transfer of property under Mohammedan law).Meanwhile, Mehfooz Ahmed, whose father M. Zahoor was Suraiya’s maternal uncle, has contended that he is her only living heir. And the housing society of Suraiya Apartments at Worli, where she owned six flats, has also made a claim on the flats.
