Row over Netaji's Puri property

An ancestral property of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Odisha’s temple town of Puri has come under the spotlight with some of his relatives based outside the state asking local authorities to delete the freedom fighter’s name from the official document of the century-old property.

However, the move was opposed by some cultural organisations in the town who want the state government to intervene and declare the place a national monument. The building, located on Gopal Ballave Road in the temple town, is in a dilapidated condition with no occupants. The building is being looked after by a caretaker.

The controversy began sometime ago when the popular freedom fighter’s relatives filed an application with the Puri Tehsildar to remove Netaji’s name from the document which was rejected by the junior government official who cited the uncertainty over the leader’s death.

The relatives then moved the Puri district Collector with their plea that had the same result. “The collector told them to bring Netaji’s death certificate”, additional district magistrate(ADM), Puri, Sukanta Pradhan said.