Former Rajasthan minister and member of the erstwhile royal family of Bharatpur Vishvendra Singh claimed that his wife and son tortured him, did not give him enough food and eventually "expelled" him from his house. Singh moved court against the mother-son duo leaving serious charges against them.
In his application filed in a sub-divisional magistrate's court, Singh also sought maintenance expenses from his wife Divya Singh and son Anirudh Singh. He has filed the application under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007.
Reaction of Vishvendra Singh's wife, son
However, his wife Divya Singh, who is a former Bharatpur MP, and son rejected his allegations, accusing Vishvendra Singh of selling ancestral properties and tarnishing their image.
Vishvendra Singh alleged in his application, said "For the past few years, my wife and son have initiated a revolt against me. They assaulted me, burned my documents and clothes and subjected me to verbal abuse while also withholding food."
The former minister claimed ancestral assets, including numerous antique items, trophies, paintings and furniture, worth crores of rupees are in possession of his wife and son.
"I was prohibited from meeting anyone and they subjected me to prolonged torture within the palace. Eventually, they expelled me from the house and I have been living elsewhere for several years.
"Since being expelled from the palace, I have been living a nomad's life. Initially, I stayed in my government residence in Jaipur and later, I stayed in hotels. They continue to deny me access to the palace," he said.
Singh has demanded Rs 5 lakh per month as maintenance from his wife and son, and that the ownership of the palace and all assets be transferred to him.
After a media report regarding Vishvendra Singh's application was published on Sunday, his wife and son held a press conference in Bharatpur and refuted all charges.
They accused him of harassing them and tarnishing their image.
"I have been trying to secure our property while he has sold everything. The family dispute escalated when Vishvendra Singh attempted to sell the Moti Mahal palace. Anirudh Singh, my son, has been taking care of me," said Divya Singh.
Anirudh Singh said his father had filed the application in court in March and dismissed his allegations as false.
"He is levelling such allegations to defame us. The application was filed by him in March. Our lawyer is representing us at every hearing while he (Vishvendra Singh) is seeking dates every time.
"We are handling the matter in a professional manner while he just wants to mount pressure on the SDM for taking a decision in his favour," he charged.
He dismissed his father's allegations as false and said he should have approached police when he was allegedly attacked. Anirudh Singh also accused his father of selling their ancestral property.
(With PTI inputs)
