‘Closest’ Babi cousin stakes claim

She was alone in death, but when it came to her property, former actor Parveen Babi had relatives and well-wishers crawling out of the woodw...

She was alone in death, but when it came to her property, former actor Parveen Babi had relatives and well-wishers crawling out of the woodwork.

Adding to the already long list of claimants to her vast property, Junagadh’s Mumtazbakhte Babi, who claims to be Parveen’s ‘‘closest’’ cousin, on Tuesday filed an application in the Junagadh Civil Court seeking a ‘‘letter of administration’’ for the property.

The application sought a letter of administration to look after the property. Mumtazbakhte contended that under the Muslim Law and Shariat, she can ask for such a right. This is the first instance where a relative of Parveen has approached the court seeking custody of her property.

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The hotly contested property primarily consists of Dhanbai Haveli located in the heart of Junagadh and the museum in Diwan Chowk area besides a number of bank accounts and lockers.

Mumtazbakhte is the daughter of a cousin of Parveen’s father.

‘‘My father Adilkhanji, a landlord, and Parveen’s father, Valimohammed, were cousins. I and Parveen are sisters and so ultimately I have the right over her property,’’ she said.

She added that anyone who claims to be related to Parveen should say so in the court only.

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The 85-year-old said Parveen was a regular visitor to her house in Matwawad Street on Jail Road in Junagadh. Her daughter-in-law Nasreen Sultana said: ‘‘We are the rightful heirs since we share blood relations with Parveen. We will respect the court’s order. I went to meet Parveen in Mumbai on June 5, 2004 and after she died I was there to perform her last rites,’’ said Nasreen.

Parveen’s ancestral property — the Dhanbai Haveli — was taken over by the State PWD last week as there were too many claimants to it. Executive engineer V.B. Pethani put a seal on the upper storey of the haveli while the lower portion is occupied by three tenants who happen to be the staff of the Babi family and have been living there for the past 50 years. They too are among the claimants.

The nearly 150-year-old Dhanbai Haveli is part of Rang Mahal, the old palace of the Nawab of Junagadh.