Vijayawada: Aged widow waging battle for her own shelter

Vijayawada: At sixty being helpless and nobody coming to her aid, this aged widow is waging a lonely battle to regain the property which is in her husband's name by sitting in the verandah of the house which she claims belongs to her.

The 61-year-old Medepalli Mahalakshmi of Christurajapuram is fighting against all odds to get back her only place her husband left before he died.

The State government allotted a small piece of land to her husband Medepalli Chandrasekhar in 1980s when he was working as a member of the editorial staff of 'The New Indian Express'. Though he started living in that place by erecting a hut, later he preferred to live in a rented house after a girl child was born.

Out of compassion, he allowed one Boddupati Sai to stay in the hut in 1986. However, since then all the taxes are being paid in the name of Chandrasekhar. Boddu Sai, in the meanwhile, constructed a shed and started living with his family. Chandrasekhar being a human rights activist never cared to look at his property in the belief that he would get back his property whenever he asked. Unfortunately, Chandrasekhar passed away due to diabetes and kidney failure. Boddupati Sai also died. Boddupati Sai's son Murali took over the property. When Mahalakshmi who is now helpless and without any financial background asked to vacate the property and give it back, Murali refused to hand over the property to her.Vexed with the behaviour of Murali, Mahalakshmi approached the city police and submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner of Police during the 'Spandana' programme. The police directed her to approach the Legal Cell for help. The legal cell which has gone through the details of her plea, advised her to compromise with Murali and settle for some money from him.

However, Mahalakshmi refused to the comprise formula.

Surprisingly, the Machavaram police on the other day asked her to come to the police station to settle the issue. However, she refused to go to the police station. This time, Mahalakshmi approached the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and submitted a memorandum to do justice to her. The CMO referred the issue to the Patamata MRO.

While speaking to the media here on Tuesday, Mahalakshmi expressed the hope that the MRO would do justice to her.