Khairagarh royal family scion’s death triggers inheritance war
THE TWO minors have alleged that they were being subjected to ‘mental torture’ by their stepmother by depriving them of their privileges after death of their father last month
The recent death of scion of royal family of Khairagarh in Rajnandgaon district in the state Debabrat Singh, also a sitting Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) MLA, has triggered a battle for his legacy between his widow Bibha and his exwife Padma, throwing the palace into turmoil.
Giving a new twist to the palace politics, “subjects” of the former princely estate of Khairagarh have thrown their weight behind his two minor children — Satakshi Singh (17) and Aryabrat Singh (16) — to give them “justice”.
Around 1,000 people gathered at the “Kamal Vilas Palace” late on Tuesday evening to show their “loyalty’”to his two minor children in the ongoing family inheritance battle.
“Large number of people from surrounding villages stormed the palace by breaking police barricade to confront Bibha to demand justice for his two children,” a senior police officer of Khairagarh told this newspaper requesting not to be quoted.
The two minors have alleged that they were being subjected to “mental torture” by their stepmother by depriving them of their privileges after death of their father last month.
“We have been denied entry to the office of the palace and the key of our car was snatched away from us. We want justice,” the two siblings told reporters on Wednesday.
The widow, however, denied the allegations, saying that she was now the custodian of the two children following the death of her husband and it is now her responsibility to take care of them.
Interestingly, Singh’s exwife allegedly entered the palace after his death, much to his widow’s chagrin.
“Late Singh’s widow and his ex-wife have lodged police complaints accusing each other of trying to usurp properties of the royal family,” the police officer said.