Battle for Gayatri's wealth hots up

Prithvi Raj Singh, former Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II’s son from his second wife who had challenged Devraj and Lalitya’s claim is now joined by his niece Urvashi Devi, daughter of former Maharaja’s  daughter from the first wife. Both of them are disputing the will reportedly made by the Rajmata in favour of her grandchildren after the death of her only son Jagat Singh. A local court that heard the petition moved by Prithivi Raj Singh and Urvashi Devi on Thursday has asked Devraj and Lalitya’s counsel to submit a written reply on the queries raised by Singh regarding Devraj and Lalitya’s claims. The next hearing is slated for May 24.

Prithvi Raj Singh and Urvashi Devi have based their case on Jagat Singh’s will in which he had reportedly disowned his children following his estranged relationship with his Thai wife. They argue since Jagat Singh himself had disowned his siblings in his life time, how could they inherit the property, he bequeathed it to his mother, the Rajmata.

Devraj and Lalitya’s plea, however, is that their father never made such a will. Counsel M M Ranjan said even if such a will existed, it was “never executed”.