Fernandes` brothers rubbish reports about battle for assets

Bangalore, Jan 23 (PTI) Brothers of ailing former Indian
minister George Fernandes Saturday rubbished reports about a
family feud over sharing of his property and said there was
"suspicion" about the return of the estranged wife of the
former firebrand socialist leader.
"We are not in a battle for (Fernandes') assets",
Fernandes' three brothers -- Michael, Aloysius and Richard --
said while describing reports of the family feud for property
as "irresponsible and mischievous".
The remarks came amid reports that a feud has broken out
among his family and friends over sharing of property of the
79-year-old former defence minister, who has been suffering
from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Fernandes' estranged wife Leila Kabir and their only
child Sean, who lives in the US, are locked in a battle with
his long-time political associate and confidante Jaya Jaitly
and Richard Fernandes, one of his four brothers.
Doubting the intention of Leila, returning after a gap of
25 years, Richard and Michael, a Bangalore-based trade union
leader, said, "If a reunion had taken place then it is a
different thing. In the absence of it, there is some
suspicion. But we do not want to get into it".
"We are neither with the estranged family nor with Jaya,
but with George," they said.
The brothers alleged that George Fernandes had been
confined to the house and not allowed to meet anyone,
describing it as "unfortunate". (More) PTI