3 min readJaipurJun 6, 2010 03:00 AM IST
First published on: Jun 6, 2010 at 03:00 AM IST
Gayatri Devi was always associated with a life of grandeur. But if her stepson Prithviraj Singh is to be believed,the late Rajmata of Jaipur had only been a tenant in Lilypool estate the palace where she lived and is most identified with in Rajasthan since 1977,paying a rent of Rs 3,000 per month.
Singh claims to possess a deed signed in 1977 between Gayatri Devi and the Rambagh Hotel Pvt Ltd RHPL,according to which the Rajmata had agreed to pay Rs 3,000 per month as rent to RHPL for five years,and was to vacate the property after the deed lapsed. According to the deed,RHPL was to pay state and municipal taxes for the property.
Singhs claim adds the latest twist to the ongoing battle for Gayatri Devis property and estate in Jaipur between her stepson and her grandchildren,Devraj and Lalitya. Sources close to the grandchildren have stated since 2009 that the late Sawai Man Singh had leased Lilypool to Gayatri Devi for 99 years,which now belongs to her natural heirs,Devraj and Lalitya.
According to Singhs advocate G K Garg,Though Gayatri Devi was to vacate the property in 1982,she continued to live in Lilypool until her demise,all the while paying rent. We have issued a notice to Devraj and Lalitya about the same and have asked them to vacate the property.
The notice was sent on February 15,2010,Garg said. It asked the grandchildren to vacate the property by May 15,failing which legal action would follow,and they would be held liable to pay Rs 50,000 per month as rent.
In their reply to Singhs notice,Devraj and Lalitya have rubbished the legal standing of the rent deed,and threatened Singh with counter action. Devrajs reply said,If you Singh take any action against my sister and I on the basis of your notice,it will solely be on your risk and consequences.
Legal wrangling over the royal estate began days after Gayatri Devis death on July 29 last year in Jaipur. Her stepson,Singh,claimed to be the sole inheritor,while her grandchildren claim to have proof as her natural heirs.
Devraj and Lalitya are the children of Gayatri Devis only biological son,Jagat Singh. Singh was married to Thai princess Priyananda Rangsit,but the couple divorced in 1987. Following Jagat Singhs death in 1997,a feud erupted over his will Singh had transferred all his property and assets to Gayatri Devi,which Priyananda challenged in court. Following Gayatri Devis death on July 29,Devraj and Lalitya have stayed in Jaipur and have claimed to be the sole heirs to her estate.
On May 21,Prithviraj Singh had sent a notice to the Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited directing them not to transfer the Lilypool electricity connection in Devrajs name,failing which RHPL would take legal action against the electricity board as the property belonged to them.
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