JAIPUR: Bikaner’s former royal family is locked in a legal battle over control of iconic properties and trusts, with two FIRs being filed against BJP MLA Siddhi Kumari, granddaughter of the last Maharaja, and her aunts Rajyashree Kumari and Madhulika Kumari.
The properties under contention are Lallgarh Palace and Laxmi Niwas Palace, operating as luxury heritage hotels.
M/s Golden Triangle Forts and Palaces Private Limited, which operate Laxmi Niwas Palace, Tuesday accused the MLA of obstructing its business operations. The complaint alleged Siddhi and her sister Mahima Kumari extorted Rs 4 crore from the company by 2011 and later refused to extend the lease or return the money.
The dispute traces back to a 57-year lease signed in 1999 by Siddhi’s father, the late Narendra Singh, son of Bikaner’s last monarch Karni Singh. Under the deal, the property was leased for 19 years each across three terms. The company alleged it fulfilled all obligations but has since faced interference.
The other FIR was filed by the trust tied to Siddhi against her aunts Rajyashree and Madhulika. The complaint accused them and three associates of stealing and destroying important property documents after a new board of trustees took over on May 29, “to prevent us from exercising control over the properties”.