Death of Maharajah’s Widow Leads to Family Dispute

Gayatri Devi was the third wife of the previous Maharajah of Jaipur.  Her death has resulted in a family dispute: 

• Devi’s family is fighting over her assets, which are worth as much as £250 million.
• Devi’s grandchildren have produced a will naming them as her sole heirs; their step-uncles have produced a prior will naming them as her sole heirs.
• Meanwhile, one of the grandchildren has accused one of the step-uncles of diluting shares of stock previously held by their father. 

For more information, see A battle of wills: Gayatri Devi’s £250m legacy, The Independent, Sept. 19, 2009.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.