Govt joins royal property dispute
The dispute over the property of former Jaipur royal Gayatri Devi, who passed away last month, got murkier on Thursday as the JDA claimed that it owned her residence, Lilypool.
The dispute over the property of former Jaipur royal Gayatri Devi, who passed away last month, got murkier on Thursday as the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) claimed that it owned her residence, Lilypool.
On Thursday, JDA officials went to measure the land around Lilypool, but they were turned back by the royal security guards. JDA commissioner Sudhansh Pant said, “Although JDA acquired the property in 1993, the possession is not with us. We will follow legal proceedings to get the possession,”
Lilypool, Gayatri Devi’s French style residence, is on the same plot of land as the Rambagh Palace, where she used to live with her husband, former ruler of Jaipur, Sawai Man Singh II.
The royal family later handed over the Rambagh palace to a private hospitality company, which converted it into a hotel. On Tuesday, the wall between Lilypool and the Rambagh Palace was dismantled. Also, a gate connecting the Rambagh swimming pool to Lilypool was blocked off.
Rumours have it that this was done by a royal family insider, but nobody has till now owned up the action. Gayatri Devi’s stepson, Prithviraj Singh, declined to comment, while his brother Jai Singh said, “Why are you asking me. Ask those who have got this done.”
Gayatri Devi’s grandchildren are also camping in Jaipur, hoping for a share of her properties. Gayatri Devi obtained succession certificates in April for her two grandchildren after telling the court that they were legal successors of her son, Jagat Singh’s estate.