Families in tug-of-war over Rs 16 lakh, an orphan

Big money, so understandably, maternal and paternal families began to fight over who is Shubham’s guardian. At present, Raj Kumar wants that role but Shubham’s maternal grandfather, Satya Prakash Gupta, has objected. “I have already lost my only daughter to destiny,” he told The Indian Express, “and now, I want my grandchild to be saved”. He says Shubham’s paternal family doesn’t allow him to meet the child.

According to Pradeep Gupta, brother of Shubham’s mother, although Shubham has received Rs 1 lakh, “Raj Kumar did not put thatsum in a fixed deposit. We fear that the child will never see the Rs 16 lakh. They haven’t even admitted Shubham to a school. What kind of life will he have?”

Satya Prakash, a resident of New Delhi, has filed an application in the court asking it to observe four conditions on the payment of the relief-sum to the child’s guardian: That the sum be deposited in a fixed deposit and the child be raised with the interest accruing from the deposit; that no loan be advanced on the fixed deposit, and that in case of the child’s death, the money goes to a trust in his parents’ name.

Raj Kumar denies the allegation and claims he has no interest in the money but only wants custody of the child. “I’ll raise him like my son; I don’t even want the interest on the fixed deposit to raise the child,” he says. Satya Prakash dismisses this. “It’s his way of projecting a clean conscience. How can he provide Shubham with a quality life’ in this expensive world?”

For Diptee, just 30 months old, who was travelling on thesame train, it’s a similar story, though with a happy ending. Her father, mother, and two brothers were killed in the accident. But this little girl’s future may not be so insecure. The Ninth Battalion of the Brigade of The Guards has offered to raise her. She too is entitled to Rs 16 lakh. Her father was serving with the Guards and they have promised to take care of her and use the compensation for her welfare.