In the latest chapter of the long-standing dispute between the “Maharaja” of the erstwhile royal family of Bharatpur and his son over ancestral property, a new division has emerged, this time over a flag hoisted at their official residence, Moti Mahal.
In a late-night break-in on September 21, three men entered the palace grounds and attempted to hoist the “original” flag of Bharatpur instead of the one that had been flying until recently. Though the men were forced to flee after palace guards arrived on the scene, the choice of flag has not only divided the local community but also pitted the titular “Maharaja of Bharatpur”, Vishvendra Singh, against his son Anirudh.
Though Vishvendra Singh, who was a Rajasthan Cabinet minister in the previous Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government and is a former Bharatpur Lok Sabha MP, no longer lives in Moti Mahal, his wife “Maharani” Divya Singh (also a former Bharatpur MP, but from the BJP) and Anirudh continue to reside there. For more than five years now, the father-son duo has been embroiled in a bitter legal and personal feud over control of the Bharatpur estate. The case is pending in the Rajasthan High Court.
What is the row about
Anirudh replaced the “original” flag bearing images of Lord Hanuman with a multicoloured, five-striped flag. While Anirudh claims the latter is a “peacetime” flag, Vishvendra criticised the change as “tampering” with the traditions and legacy of Bharatpur. As news spread of a new flag being hoisted, many members of the local community rallied on social media and called for the restoration of the “original” flag.
As the row escalated, tensions grew over what was seen as an attack on the family’s heritage. On September 21, some locals took matters into their own hands. Though the police were deployed at the palace that day in anticipation of unrest, no action was taken until late at night, when one Manudev Sinsini, from Deeg district’s Sinsini village, and his companions broke into the palace premises to hoist the “original” flag. Following the break-in, Anirudh filed an FIR accusing Manudev and his companions of trespassing.
Anirudh replaced the “original” flag (left) bearing images of Lord Hanuman with a multicoloured, five-striped flag.
Bharatpur’s Additional SP Satish Kumar confirmed that an FIR had been registered, but no arrests had yet been made. Kumar said that after the controversy, Anirudh had replaced the Bharatpur flag with the Tricolour to de-escalate the situation. However, as a precautionary step, the Tricolour has also been taken down to prevent its disrespect.
On September 22, a panchayat was convened at Sinsini village and Manudev was welcomed with garlands. The organisers then dialled Vishvendra Singh who told them he would go to Moti Mahal on Basant Panchami, the day the Bharatpur estate was established in 1743, to hoist the “correct” flag. The next Basant Panchami is on January 23, 2026.
During the call, when asked by locals about the FIR lodged by Anirudh, Vishvendra said, “Main apne parivar ke saath nahi hoon. Main janta ka tha or rahoonga. Mahal mere naam mein hai. Ladka kaun hai FIR likhwane wala? Maine SP se baat kar li hai. Manudev or uske saathiyon ko kuch nahi hoga (I am not with my family. I was and will continue to be with the people. The palace is in my name. Who is Anirudh to file an FIR? I have spoken to the SP. Nothing will happen to Manudev and his companions).”
Anirudh’s explanation
In response, Anirudh claimed the flag his father wants to use has two images of Lord Hanuman and was used during war, while the five-striped flag is used during peacetime.
“Six years back, when my father was residing with us, we took a unanimous decision to hoist the five-stripe flag as it is peacetime. Now, suddenly, this issue is being unnecessarily dragged by my father. The property dispute is ongoing. He has already lost his case in the lower court and now he should wait patiently for the decision of the High Court. But he is trying to gain sympathy with these actions,” he said.
Asked about his father’s comments in the phone call with the villagers, Anirudh said, “This palace was not built by my father, but my grandfather. So, it is ancestral property and I am the co-owner of this property along with my father. He wants to protect criminals by instigating such incidents without waiting patiently for the court’s decision. We can file an FIR if, while residing in the property, our security is breached.”
The flag dispute is not the first time the royal family’s internal conflict has spilled into the public. In May 2024, Vishvendra accused his wife and son of assaulting and starving him and driving him out of his home. Anirudh and Divya, however, denied the allegations.
As tensions remain high in Bharatpur, Vishvendra has chosen to remain largely silent in the media, emphasising that he wants to “avoid any violence” and “allow the law to take its course”. He reiterated that Basant Panchami would be the most appropriate occasion for him to hoist the “original” flag as the “rightful owner” of the estate.