Bal Thackeray was mentally fit when he signed will: Doctor to Bombay HC

Thackeray’s sons Uddhav and Jaidev have been locked in a legal battle over his will. Jaidev has questioned his father’s mental health when he had signed the will.

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“It was Bal Thackeray’s wish,” the doctor, who attested the will, testified. However, when the court asked him to answer the question from a medical point of view, the witness said it was necessary as any medical emergency could have arisen. Thackeray’s family physician was cross-examined by Jaidev’s lawyer before Justice Gautam Patel.

“Is it correct that Bal Thackeray was not of sufficiently sound and disposing state of mind and memory to make the will in Dec 11?” asked the lawyer to which the doctor replied, “It is incorrect. I disagree with it”.

The doctor was further asked if he had discussed Thackeray’s health condition with any of his family members before his death. The doctor said he had discussed the late leader’s condition with most family members. The daily details though were discussed only with Uddhav and Bal Thackeray.

“What kind of a relationship did you share with Uddhav?” was another question put to the family physician to which the witness said, “Cordial and family like.”

On Tuesday, the family physician was asked about the wine-drinking habit of Bal Thackeray. The family physician Tuesday had disclosed that the late Thackeray drank one-and-a-half glasses of wine twice a day. He also said Thackeray was suffering from “chronic illnesses”.

Udhhav had filed a probate petition to get the will certified by the High Court, but Jaidev contested it, saying that according to the will, he would not get anything. The court in one of the earlier hearings said that it would be in the interest of both parties to avoid a situation that may arise as a result of the proceedings. The court on June 10 would pass directions in the case.