HC gives 90 days to settle property feud between Scindia & 3 aunts

BHOPAL: The decades-old property dispute within the Scindia royal family has inched closer to resolution, with Madhya Pradesh HC at Gwalior granting 90 days for an amicable settlement between Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and his three aunts - Usha Raje Rana, former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje, and former MP minister Yashodhara Raje.

While hearing the matter on Sept 15, Justice GS Ahluwalia recorded that both sides had agreed to settle their dispute but required additional time to withdraw pending cases, including probate proceedings before Bombay HC, which by law requires a statutory 60-day notice.

At stake is one of India's largest royal estates, including the iconic Jai Vilas Palace in Gwalior, Madhav Vilas Palace, Happy Vilas, George Castle (Shivpuri), Kaliadeh Palace (Ujjain), Gwalior House and Scindia Villa (Delhi), Padma Vilas Palace (Pune), Scindia Ghat (Varanasi), and the Vithoba Temple (Goa).

Counsel for the aunts, Sandeep Grover, informed HC that parties had agreed to a compromise, but procedural withdrawals would take at least three months. He sought liberty to withdraw the civil revision, with the right to revive it if a compromise application is not filed before trial court within 90 days. The request was not opposed by counsels representing Jyotiraditya Scindia and other respondents.

The dispute stems from a 2010 suit filed by the three aunts seeking their share in the family's vast fortune.

They argued that daughters have equal rights in their father's property under succession laws. Jyotiraditya Scindia later filed a counter-suit. Both matters have been pending in various courts, with the civil revision reaching the high court in 2017.