Senior BJP leader Gudur Narayana Reddy has called on the Central and state governments to prevent Azmet Jah, who claims to be the sole heir of the Hyderabad Nizam, from laundering hundreds of crores that belong to India. In a media statement issued on Saturday, he alleged that Azmet Jah has been selling disputed assets belonging to the extended Nizam family in India and transferring the proceeds to Turkey and other countries through intermediaries.
“He is causing significant harm to the Indian economy by siphoning off money to hostile nations like Turkey. Additionally, he is misleading the Indian public by asserting that he is the only heir of the Hyderabad Nizam,” Reddy stated.
Gudur urged the Telangana government not to allow Azmet Jah to lead Islamic ceremonies, such as Muharram processions, and to prevent him from deceiving the public and the Nizam family regarding his claims of inheritance.
He emphasized that the Centre should direct its investigation agencies to examine Azmet Jah’s activities and uncover the truth behind his questionable dealings, ensuring justice for the extended Nizam family. Gudur claimed to possess documentary evidence of the offenses committed by Azmet and expressed his willingness to address any inquiries regarding the matter.
He noted that the registered family members of the Nizams, from the first to the sixth generation, have joined a trust established by the Seventh Nizam. They have recognized Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan, a parallel descendant of the royal family, as their leader and are actively fighting for their rights in court. Almost all descendants of the Seventh Nizam support Nawab Raunaq and categorically deny Azmet’s claims of being a Nizam, urging the courts and government to uphold their rights.
Gudur clarified that the Centre abolished royal titles and privy purses in 1971, derecognizing all former rulers, which means there is no basis for inheriting titles. Therefore, Azmet cannot be considered a successor to any title or privileges.
Azmet’s half-brother, Azam, born to Mukaram Jah, has also contested Azmet’s claims in court and has proposed the implementation of Sharia rules to secure a share of the inheritance. Ironically, while doing so, he denies the rest of the family the rights granted by Sharia. Gudur pointed out that Azam is also a foreign citizen.
Gudur mentioned that the extended royal family has proposed “Ijma” and selected Nawab Raunaq, who is a bachelor, as the “Ninth Nizam of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty” or administrator of the residual royal clan, acting through him.
The titular Nizam passed away on January 14, 2023, and according to Indian law, the title cannot be inherited. Furthermore, Prince Mukarram Jah was born to a Turkish princess, making him “half Turkish,” while Azmet is “three-quarters Turkish” due to his mother’s nationality. Thus, Gudur argued that Azmet should be regarded as a foreigner with Turkish citizenship.
He reminded that Turkey had acted against India during Operation Sindoor by supplying weapons to the Pakistan Army. Given this context, Gudur urged the Centre and state governments to take strong action against Azmet and curb his clandestine activities in the country.
