DNA EXCLUSIVE | Padmaavat row: Ex-royal writes letter to PM, CM over alleged police harassment

Dust over the Bhansali film Padmaavat controversy is far from being settled in Rajasthan. Erstwhile Mewar (Udaipur) royals who are direct descendants of Queen Padmini have written a scathing letter to chief minister Vasundhara Raje and prime minister alleging police harassment.  

The controversy has arisen over an inter-department communication sent from SP Udaipur to Ghantaghar Thana of Udaipur. It terms Mahendra Singh as a Congress worker and seeks an inquiry into his political leanings and activities. It has also asked details about ‘criminal proceedings’ pending against him. The letter goes on to say that required information should be provided within five days on top priority. 

The sequence of events raises speculation whether a dossier is being prepared on the erstwhile royal who was vocal and active opposition to the Bhansali film Padmavati aka Padmaavat. It is believed to be one of the major reasons for Rajputs turning against BJP. Incidentally one of the seats Mandalgarh where BJP lost in the bypolls falls in the erstwhile Mewar Kingdom, of which Padmini was the queen.         

The matter came to the erstwhile royal’s notice when in a major goo f up policemen from the thana reached his house with the letter and sought the information of ‘criminal proceedings’ from Mahendra Singh himself.  

Mahendra Singh’s son Vishvaraj Singh Mewar, has confirmed the incident. “Yes policemen with the letter from the SP had come to our home for the investigation. And yes my father has written a letter to the PM, CM and both union and state home ministers,” confirmed Vishvaraj Singh to DNA. 

In response Mahendra Singh, the erstwhile royal scion, has written a letter to prime minister Narendra Modi, chief minister Vasundhara Raje, union home minister Rajnath Singh and Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria wherein he has expressed his displeasure at the police ‘harassing law abiding citizens’ like him. He termed such administration as anarchy.  

Mahendra Singh has further written that he got a call from the addl SP of Udaipur who apologised to him for the letter. Singh has gone on to write in his letter that he told the addl SP that police should hand in their uniforms if they are reduced to harassing citizens. Notably, Mahendra Singh was an MP from Chittorgarh on a BJP ticket in 1989.