MYSURU: Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, wife of Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, was all smiles after the Mysuru royal family’s 44-year-old legal battle with the Income Tax Department coming to an end.
The Income Tax Department is refunding the excess taxes it had collected by way of auctioning the family’s properties, attachment of rental income and recoveries from personal income.
Refusing to quantify the refund from I-T Department, she said on Thursday that it would run into a few lakhs and the money would be used for the renovation of Jagan Mohan Palace.She said her late husband was confident of getting justice and felt that it was unfortunate that the order was passed after his death.
Recalling that she had to face many challenges after the sudden death of her husband, Pramoda Devi said, “I am happy that we are vindicated in the eyes of the public and it is proved that the royal family paid excess income tax for 40 years”, she said.
She told reporters that there were many baseless reports making rounds in the media in early 1980s and 1990s about the royal family in connection with its income taxes. But the apex court verdict has put such speculations to rest and the family has proved its innocence in the court of law in all the cases pending before the apex court till 2012, she said. The I-T department after a 2015 judgment took two years to come out with final figures along with interest to be paid to the family.
Pointing out that a portion of Exhibition Ground and four others properties were partially disposed, she said the family will continue the legal battle against Mysore Palace Acquisition Bill 1998.She said the government that allowed the public visit Mysore Palace from 1977, has not remitted surplus revenue to the royal family after spending on its maintenance.
Asked whether there was a political conspiracy against such cases related to I-T department, Pramoda Devi observed that some people in early 80s who were aware of the people’s emotional attachment with royal family and its clean image wanted to keep them busy with such problems.
‘Not interested in politics’
Pramoda Devi Wadiyar has clarified that neither she is interested in politics nor has she been offered any position in the BJP by party chief Amit Shah. She said Shah’s recent meeting with her family was a matter of courtesy and it had nothing to do with politics. Maintaining that she will not campaign for any party, Pramoda Devi said she always likes to remain with people. Asked whether Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar is keen on joining politics, she said it is upto him to decide.