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MUMBAI: The wife of an ailing descendant of a royal family in Rajasthan has moved the Bombay high court seeking to be appointed as his legal guardian and caretaker of properties inherited by him.
Breach Candy resident Rajkumari Ratna Singh (61) has filed the petition in respect of her husband Jai Singh Sisodia (69), who is undergoing rehab at a centre in Vasai. The daughter of former foreign minister, Dinesh Singh, she was thrice Congress MP from Pratapgarh in UP. She joined the BJP in October 2019.
Singh’s plea says Sisodia is “an alcoholic, drug addict and has severe medical conditions”. His diabetes and alcoholism have led to loss of sensation in his limbs and he cannot walk without help. It has also led to prostate and bladder cancer and decompensate liver cirrhosis, she said, adding, after he was diagnosed with cancer, he began consuming CBD marijuana oil that rendered him intoxicated and dysfunctional.
Royal heir’s actions ruining mental peace, affecting me financially: Wife
Singh’s plea states that her husband belongs to a royal family from Pratapgarh in Rajasthan and is a “descendant of the famous Maharana Pratap”. From his mother’s side, she said, he belongs to the royal family of Jamnagar, erstwhile Nawanagar, in Gujarat.
Singh said her father-inlaw Ambikapratapsinh Sisodia died in November 2017 and her mother-in-law, Mukunda Kumari, a British national who resides in the UK, suffers from physical ailments due to old age.
“There are a number of incidents where the petitioner’s husband sold properties and valuables to buy drugs and alcohol and smokes,” the plea states, adding that due to his actions, she is suffering in terms of mental peace and also the money required to treat him.
Sisodia has inherited from his father movable and immovable properties across India and abroad. His father also had mutual funds, fixed deposits, shares, jewellery, paintings, family heirlooms and trusts, among other things. Singh’s petition says in order to safeguard these properties, it is necessary to appoint her legal guardian as her husband is disposing them to fulfil his urge for drugs. Singh’s plea said while “she has sufficient income to maintain the husband at present”, his treatment was likely to cost her a huge sum. Further, she said she also has to maintain herself and her two children.
Before Justice Milind Jadhav, assistant government pleader Jyoti Chavan on Friday objected to the petition’s maintainability, saying relief has been sought under the Guardians and Wards Act, which is applicable to minors. She said the state has complete empathy for Singh, but the petition cannot be entertained in this manner. Justice Jadhav concurred, adding that the best recourse is to withdraw the petition and file it afresh under Article 226 which gives the high court wide powers to grant relief. Singh’s advocate Anand Mishra said he will take instructions on the court suggestions and inform at the next date.
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Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-ailing-royal-scions-wife-seeks-to-be-his-guardian/articleshow/80078622.cms