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'Madhavrao shall not light my pyre'

Onkar Singh

The late Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia -- in her will dated September 20, 1985 -- appointed Sardar Sambajirao Angre and Swadeshi Jagran Manch leader S Gurumurthy as its joint executors and directed that, after her death, they would take charge of her estate, including all her properties, assets, works of arts, jewellery, furnishings and any rights over any impartitioned property (Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia's father had divided the Scindia estate into three parts -- one third went to his son, Jivajirao; one third was given to his daughter-in-law, Vijaya Raje, and one third came to Madhavrao. The term 'impartitioned property' in the Rajmata's will refers to the property that was left to her.)

According to the will, which was made public by Sardar Angre, the Rajmata directed that her only son, Madhavrao, would not be given the right to light her funeral pyre. She wanted her pyre to be lit by Sardar Ramaji Rao Shinde and, if he was not available, by any of his brothers.

"He (Madhavrao) has forfeited the right to call himself my son," she wrote in her will. "I am clear in my conviction. He shall not light my pyre or do any last rites for me. Therefore, I nominate Sardar Ramaji Rao Shinde and, failing him, any one of his brothers to perform my antim kriyas (last rites). Sardar Shinde will also perform my shraadh (the 13th day ceremony) as well as the Brahmkapali at Badri Narayan."

The Rajmata accused Madhavrao of humiliating her through various devices and mentally torturing her. When asked why the Congress leader was allowed to light the pyre, Sardar Angre said, "At that time, I did not have the will."

The main beneficiaries of the will are Sardar Angre and his family. "The two stud farms at Jodhpur, which are owned by K B Investments Co Pvt Limited and Lekha Vijay Pvt Limited, should be transferred to Sardar S C Angre after completing the necessary formalities. These stud farms are my gift to him," she said, in what has been termed her final will.

In reply to a question, Sardar Angre denied the possibility of any other will. "It is only a matter of legality that, while writing a will, one says it is the last will and shall cancel and supersede all earlier wills," replied an aide, who was present at the press conference held at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on Wednesday evening.

The Rajmata also forebade any recovery of any money that Angre and his family members owned to her. Angre, however, denied that he owned her anything. "No, I don't owe her anything in terms of money," he clarified.

According to her will, the person to whom the emerald lingam which she had been worshipping would go to would be decided after consulting the Kanchi Shankaracharya, the present senior Shankaracharya or Shri Pejawas Swamiji of the Udipi Math.

"Shri Sardar Angre and his son, Rani Raj Rajeshwari Angre and Dr J K Jain (who owns Jain television)... shall continue in the present positions which they occupy in the companies/institutions under my ownership or control," she wrote in her will.

In accordance with her will, a Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia Trust would be established. It would have seven trustees, including her three daughters, three independent persons and Sardar Angre. This trust would manage all the properties in her name. In addition to this, the 18 other trusts already in existence would continue to function independently.

Former BJP president Shashikant 'Kushabhau' Thakre would be gifted Rs 100,000; the Rajmata had a 35-year-long association with him.

Asked about the cases that were pending in court, Sardar Angre replied there were "four or five at the most." He was extremely irritated when asked why her grandson, Jyotiraditya (Madhavrao's son), did not figure in the will. He snapped that he could not answer this question on the Rajmata's behalf. "It is her will and I cannot say why she did not name her grandson in her will."

Will Dr Jain, who occupies large chunk of the Scindia villa in the heart of New Delhi continue to stay there or would he be evicted? "This would be decided by the board of trustees," said Sardar Angre. "Dr Jain is only a licensee of the land, which is owned by a company. Now, the trust will decide what to do next. That decision will be taken by a majority vote. Madhavrao Scindia has nothing to do with this land."

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