Gaekwads of royal family declare assets

The two members of the Gaekwad royal family of the erstwhile Baroda state, Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad and Satyajitsinh Gaekwad, contesting from the Kheda and Vadodara parliamentary seats, declared assets worth Rs 60 lakh and Rs 77 lakh, respectively.

The affidavit of erstwhile Maharani of Baroda Shubhaginiraje's mentions 40.42 acre of agricultural land in Lachura district of Bhind in Madhya Pradesh in her name and 44 acres in her spouse Ranjitsinh Gaekwad's name in Dumada Gujarat, and landholdings at Dhar in Madhya Pradesh. The Current market value of the lands is estimated Rs 32,000 and Rs 39,000.

It also mentions a one-third share in a commercial and residential property at Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai measuring 9445 sq. ft. It says Ranjitsinh is a member of Jawaharlal Group Housing Cooperative Housing Society in Delhi.

Details of assets of children are not mentioned "as they are not dependent on me", Shubhanginiraje said.

There is no mention of any other property including the Laxmivilas Palace, over 700-acre plot surrounding the palace, Rajmahal and the exhibition ground in Vadodara besides royal family property on Juhu-Tara road in Mumbai and other places.

Shubhanginiraje has declared jewellery belonging to the family of about Rs 14 lakhs, but does not mention precious diamonds like 'Star of the South' and 'The Akbar Shah'.

She has cash of Rs 22,000 in banks and bonds, debentures, investment in other financial institutions amounting to about 22 lakhs while her husband's investments are approximately Rs 20 lakhs.

Satyajitsingh, contesting from Vadodara as a Congress candidate, has declared family assets as Rs 77 lakh with a liability of over Rs 1.70 crore.

He said in his affidavit telephone bills of over Rs 3,37,930 of Parliament house annexe was disputed with general manager telephones and a stay has been granted by the high court.

The other liability of Rs 1.67 crore stands when he was director of Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited and the case is pending in the high court, Satyajitsinh stated in his affidavit.

Some cases are also pending against him for allegedly protesting against the price hike in edible oils, forming unlawful assembly and mischief during the protests.

He and his family owns cash of Rs 1,50,000, FDRs, shares, debentures and investments in banks and other financial institutions totalling Rs 20 lakh, motor vehicles worth Rs five lakhs, jewellery Rs 2.50 lakh and agricultural land and property of about Rs 38 lakh.