The descendants of Nizam VII have started moves to get back the millions of pounds of family funds held in a frozen account of the National Westminster Bank of London. This follows the Union cabinet’s decision to go for an out-of-court settlement with Pakistan and the heirs of the Nizam to settle the six-decade-old dispute involving the funds.
Princess Esra, ex-wife of Prince Mukarram Jah Bahadur, the grandson and successor of the Nizam VII, consulted her legal advisers as well as officials in Delhi to assess the latest development. She holds general power of attorney for Mukarram Jah, and is in London with her children. Sources said Mukarram Jah, who is in Turkey, is ready to fly to London and then to India once the process for out of court settlement begins.
“The prince will come in only when matters are in the final stage and till then, Princess Esra will take care of matters,” said the source. Nobody knows the exact amount that Nizam VII had deposited in the London bank. The Nizam’s family was represented in the case relating to the funds by Sadruddin Javeri, Asadullah Khan, Khairuddin Ali Khan, Anwarullah Pasha and Shahed Hussain, former GPA holders and advisors of Mukarram Jah.
Begum Scheherazade Javeri, former principal adviser to Mukarram Jah also represented Nizam’s family later. Among all those who fought the case, only Begum Javeri is in India to monitor the issue for Princess Esra. “But there is a possibility that the Princess won’t seek her help since their relations soured after the episode involving the maintenance of Princess Manolya Onur, ex-wife of Mukarram Jah,” said a source in the Nizam’s family.
Princess Esra is expected to visit New Delhi as well as Hyderabad in the last week of April.
Meanwhile, Nawab Mufakham Jah, younger brother of Mukarram Jah, held a meeting with his advisors and trust officials on Saturday to discuss the issue. “Nawab Mufakham Jah welcomes the government’s move and wants the issue to be settled quickly,” said one of his aides. “He believes that he and his elder brother are the sole share holders in the trust in whose name the money was invested in London.” Prince Shahamath Jah and his mother Anwari Begum, daughter-in-law of Nizam VII and wife of Moazzam Jah, said they believed that Princess Esra would not deprive them of their due
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