Rajasthan police flag Padmini descendant for backing Congress

An internal police memo exchanged between cops in Udaipur which flags a scion of Mewar royalty as a person of interest for being a Congress worker has rattled the erstwhile royal, when a constable entrusted with “investigating” him showed up at his palatial house, seeking to open an inquiry against him.

An upset Mahendra Singh, a descendant of Rani Padmini who is storified in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, has shot off letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, and others, alleging police harassment.

At the centre of his grouse lies the interdepartmental communique from Udaipur Superintendent of Police (SP) to the city’s Ghantaghar police station. The letter dated February 5 seeks, on “top priority”, an inquiry into “Congress-leaning” Mahendra Singh’s political activities, as well as details of any “criminal proceedings” pending against him. The letter asks that the information be provided within five days.

It was this memo that a cop from Ghantaghar police brandished in his face — in what could only have been a blunder — after turning up at his residence on February 10 to make an inquiry against him, from him.

Mahendra Singh’s political activities have, of late, comprised a robust objection to the release of Padmaavat, the controversial film his fellow Rajputs were protesting vehemently for they believe it distorts their history. The community’s rage over the film’s release in all but four states is believed to have cost the BJP three bypolls in the state last month, of which Mandalgarh, in the erstwhile Mewar region of which Padmini was queen, was one.

The episode has sparked speculation if a dossier is being prepared against Mahednra Singh.His son, Vishwaraj Singh, said, “Yes, the policeman came to our house with the SP’s letter for an investigation. My father has written to the CM, PM, and union home minister Rajnath Singh and state home minister Gulabchand Kataria.”

The letter expresses concern at the law enforcement administration’s “anarchy”, and the cops who are “harassing law abiding citizens” like him. It also states that Singh later received an apology call from the additional SP.

PERSON OF INTEREST?

• Mahendra Singh was elected BJP MP from Chittorgarh in 1989.
   
• Police memo labels him a Congress supporter and seeks info about him
   
• Mahendra Singh has complained to the PM, CM Raje, and others