Protracted tussle likely over Parveen Babi's will

A protracted legal tussle seems on the cards over the controversy surrounding the property of the late film star Parveen Babi.

The controversy refuses to die down even after a will has been produced in a court of her ancestral town Junagadh in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

"We propose to contest the will," says the counsel for Mumtaz Bakhte, a cousin of the late film star.

The lawyer for Parveen Babi's niece, Nasreen Babi, is equally determined to do likewise on behalf of his client.

So far seven claimants to Parveen Babi's property have approached the court and filed applications. Among them are Farhat Sultana of Balasinore, the actress's niece who was allowed to claim her body in Mumbai.

Mumtaz Bakhte, who was the first to make a claim, has requested the court not to entertain any claims from any other relative.

Others who have filed claims include Raheem Khan Babi, Mumtaz Khan, Nur Mohammad Babi, Sujat Khan and Murad Khan Babi.

The immediate aftermath of Parveen's death saw more than 20 claimants surface for the right to the legacy of the actress. The number has subsequently been whittled down.

Interestingly, Parveen is not survived by any direct blood relation as she was single and an only child.

The high profile actress who led a bohemian existence during her hey days had turned a recluse in later life after a depressive ailment.

"At one point of time she wished to will her property to spiritualist U.G. Krishnamurthy and had even contacted a friend in Bangalore in this regard," said a close friend of Babi.

It was felt the production of her will in the Junagadh court on April 28 would set matters at rest but this has not happened for moves are afoot to challenge the will.

The will drawn up on July 29, 2002 gives only a part of the property to a family friend (Murad Khan Babi) while it wills away the rest to Christian missionaries and to a trust to be set up for poor members of the Babi family.

The will had been lying in a Junagadh bank locker which was operated jointly by Parveen and Murad.