The Mehrangarh Museum Trust, formed by Jodhpur’s former royal family, has asked the jail authorities to hand over the wreckage of an aircraft that had crashed in 1952 killing Jodhpur’s Maharaja Hanwant Singh and his “mistress” Zubeida.
The light aircraft’s wreckage was discovered in a cellar of the Jodhpur Central Jail. The authorities said it could be possible that the ill-fated plane’s wreckage was kept in the jail premises as it was considered inauspicious.
Late Maharaja of Jodhpur Hanwant Singh died in the plane crash with Zubeida while he was campaigning for Indian republic’s first general elections in 1952 and flying in his favourite light aircraft.
Though he was married to royal princess Krishna Kumari but he spent his last days with Zubeida. The Mehrangarh Museum Trust set up in 1972 by Maharaj Gaj Singh has formally sent a letter to the jail authorities seeking possession of the wreckage.
“We have written to the jail administration to hand over the wreckage to the trust. Though we are not clear what will be done of it, but it will be part of the museum trust,” said Mahendra Singh Nagar, director of the trust. The Mehrangarh Museum draws a large number of tourists.