The long-standing property dispute within the Bikaner erstwhile royal family has once again come to the forefront. On Friday, international shooter and member of the royal family, Rajyashree Kumari, was reportedly denied entry to the temple inside the historic Junagarh Fort in Bikaner. She had arrived to offer prayers on the death anniversary of her father, former Maharaja Narendra Singh. Security guards and Kotgate Police Station officer Vishwajit Singh prevented Rajyashree Kumari, along with her advocate Kamal Narayan Purohit and Avinash Vyas, from entering the fort, while after waiting for nearly two hours, Rajyashree Kumari returned home.
Violation of Worship Rights: Rajyashree Kumari
Rajyashree Kumari termed the incident a "violation of her right to worship. " Expressing faith in the legal system, she stated that she expects justice, while rajyashree is the paternal aunt of BJP MLA Siddhi Kumari and operates the Karni Singh Trust. Junagarh Fort, currently under the Rai Singh Trust, houses the Prachina Museum, which is managed by Siddhi Kumari, while the two have been embroiled in a prolonged dispute over the properties of the erstwhile royal family.
The Genesis of the Dispute
The core of the dispute lies in the will of Dr. Karni Singh, who appointed five administrators for the family trusts. Following the demise of four administrators, Rajyashree Kumari remained the sole administrator. Siddhi Kumari challenged this administratorship after the passing of her mother, Sushila Kumari, and subsequently filed a court case. The court issued a stay order on October 22, pending a final decision, which Rajyashree interprets in her favor, asserting her right to control the properties and accounts, while rajyashree's staff claims prior information was given about her visit, and she maintains that access to her ancestral temples within Junagarh is unrestricted by the will.
Key Trusts and Properties Involved
The dispute primarily revolves around several trusts, including the Maharaja Ganga Singh Trust, which controls the multi-billion-rupee Lalgarh Palace and Laxmi Niwas Palace, both operating as five-star hotels. Siddhi Kumari resides in a part of Lalgarh Palace. The Maharaja Rai Singh Trust oversees Junagarh Fort and the Prachina Museum. This incident underscores the deep-seated familial and property disagreements that continue to plague the Bikaner royal family, attracting significant public attention.
