Mahasweta Devi accuses personal assistant of defrauding her

Writer and social activist Mahasweta Devi Saturday accused her personal assistant Joy Bhadra of fraudulently acquiring her properties.

Bhadra, who has been working as an assistant with the noted author since 2000, rubbished all the allegations.

"Bhadra in the last few years has taken my signatures on a number of documents and by creating trusts in my name, has fraudulently acquired my house, properties and legacy. I suspect I was administered too many sedatives to get the signatures on these documents," Mahasweta Devi told mediapersons here.

The Ramon Magsaysay award winner said she would be approaching West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seeking her intervention in the matter.

Bhadra, also a writer, denied the charges and claimed there was a conspiracy going on to malign him.

"The allegations are false and baseless. She is approaching 90 years and her mental status is not such that she can judge all these. She has been influenced to make the allegations by some people with vested interest," Bhadra told IANS.

"She is like my mother and I have been taking care of her since 2000. All the medicines were administered strictly in accordance with medical supervision, there is no question of giving sedatives beyond the recommended doses," added Bhadra.