Congress MP, son continue to spar over Amethi property

A day after clashes between villagers and police outside a palace here left a constable dead, Congress MP Sanjay Singh Monday accused his first wife and son of "criminal trespass" into his ancestral property.

Sanjay Singh, a Rajya Sabha member from Assam and the erstwhile ruler of Amethi, also accused his son Anant Vikram Singh and first wife Garima Singh of provoking villagers against him and his second wife Amita in greed of money and property.

Addressing a press conference in presence of Amita Singh, a former legislator, Sanjay Singh said he was deeply shocked at the killing of the policeman and he would never forget the incident in his life.

The clashes erupted Sunday outside the Bhupati Bhawan Palace when Sanjay Singh along with Amita had tried to enter the 450-year-old palace.

Hundreds of villagers, who are supporting Anant Vikram Singh, surrounded the place to prevent them from entering it. Garima Singh, Anant Vikram Singh, his wife and three sisters were staying in the palace for the past two months.

Police tried to thwart any untoward incident but villagers began pelting stones and opened fire on police, killing one constable.

In a related development, Garima Singh accused the erstwhile ruler of Amethi of trying to usurp the rights of her son and three daughters.

Garima Singh has been seeking right to property as Sanjay Singh's first wife as the divorce between her and Sanjay Singh was rejected by the Supreme Court in 1998. The apex court ruled that a Sitapur court had granted an ex-parte divorce in Garima Singh's absence.