Descendants of Jeypore Samsathanam fight for Hawa Mahal

Visakhapatnam: The 27th heir to the 575-year-old Jeypore Samasthanam Vishveshvar Chandrachud Deo coronated as maharaja of the samasthanam. Mother of Vishveshvar, Rani Sarika Devi, introduced the young king at a press conference here on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Rani Sarika Devi explained the developments that took place in her family during the past two- and-a-half decades. Samasthanam and people have accepted Vishveshvar Chandrachud Deo as the king of the samasthanam, she reminded.

According to Sarika Devi she got married to Vibhuti Bhushan Deo in 1993 and their family stayed in the Hawa Mahal in the city. However, after Vibhuti Bhushan Deo died in 1997, she was shifted to in-law’s fort at Jeypore.

Later, her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Mayanka Devi and Shakti Vikram Deo troubled and tortured her, she alleged. “Observing my troubles, my brother Harsha Vardhan Singh took me and my son to his place. With the help of some revenue, I maintained and Vishveshvar completed education”, she recalled.

During her absence in the fort, Mayank Devi and Shakti Vikram Deo robbed the royal treasure and other valuables, Sarika Devi alleged. Speaking about their assets in Visakhapatnam, Sarika Devi and Vishveshvar alleged that Mayank Devi is trying to sell their property. They appealed the people not to believe the rumours being spread by Mayank Devi that Vishveshvar is an adopted son.

“The Hawa Mahal and some other heritage structures in the samasthanam are combined property of the family. No one have single title deed rights. My aunt Mayank Devi even not looking my 86-year-old grand mother Rama Kumari Devi, who is presently recovering from a fire accident.

We decided to fight for the rights on the Hawa Mahal in the court. As a head of the samasthanam, we are requesting the people not to believe anyone who try to sell the Hawa Mahal and other properties of the samasthanam,” Vishveshvar said.