Dr. Hemlata Srivastava passes away in Jabalpur:Last rites to be held under police supervision; who will inherit ₹60 cr property?

Senior ophthalmologist Dr Hemlata Srivastava of Jabalpur passed away on Sunday evening following a prolonged illness, triggering fresh questions over her multi-crore property. After a post-mortem conducted in the presence of the SDM and police, a team of doctors handed over her body to her sister. Her last rites will be performed on Monday at Ranital Muktidham cremation ground under police supervision. Dr Srivastava, a resident of Right Town, had been admitted to the hospital about a month ago. Although her condition had improved, she suddenly passed away on Sunday. Her husband and son had predeceased her. A case alleging property usurpation has been registered against Dr Sumit Jain, his wife, Prachi Jain, her sister and her brother-in-law. Multiple claims over property worth crores Dr Srivastava’s post-mortem was carried out in the presence of administrative and police officials. The dispute intensified after reports emerged that property worth around ₹60 crore, including approximately 11,000 sq ft of land, had been transferred. According to Dr Sumit Jain, Dr Srivastava was with him on his birthday on 14 January. Twelve days earlier, on 2 January, she had voluntarily executed a registered gift deed transferring around 11,000 sq ft of land in the name of her father-in-law and son for the construction of a Memorial Hospital. Meanwhile, the Gayatri Mandir Trust has also staked a claim. It stated that Dr Srivastava had expressed to her younger sister, Kanak Lata Mishra, her wish to donate her entire property to the Trust. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also intervened in the matter. Her younger sister, Shanti Tiwari, who resides in Chhattisgarh, has been informed. After her arrival in Jabalpur, the body will be formally handed over to the family. Allegations of fraud and forced documents Amid the dispute, the district administration intervened in January and admitted Dr Srivastava to the Medical Hospital following a complaint by the IMA. After regaining consciousness, she reportedly stated that the gift deed had been prepared and registered using false information. An investigation is underway into the role of the doctor couple, the registrar and others. The IMA has levelled serious allegations, stating that the senior doctor was harassed for her property and that registry and gift deeds were executed despite her poor physical and mental condition. Birthday video and health decline Dr Srivastava celebrated her 81st birthday on 12 January, and a video of the occasion surfaced showing Dr Sumit Jain and Prachi Jain cutting the cake with her. It is alleged that she was healthy until 13 January but her condition deteriorated suddenly on 14 January. She was admitted to Mukherjee Hospital, located opposite her residence, after which her health worsened and she developed an ulcer on her hand. Dr Jain claimed that Tarun Bahrani was present and questioned what medication may have been administered that led to such rapid deterioration. He also stated that a video purported to be from the Medical College was in fact from Mukherjee Hospital. Dr Jain maintains that Dr Srivastava donated the land of her own free will while fully conscious, wishing to establish a memorial hospital in the name of her father-in-law B.L. Srivastava and son Rachit Srivastava. He said Rachit had studied with him and that the families shared a close relationship. Family tragedy and administrative action Dr Srivastava’s son Rachit, also a doctor, died of a silent heart attack in 2022. Her husband passed away three years later in December 2025. Living alone in her valuable Right Town property, she had attended a medical education conference in Jabalpur on 9 November 2025 and appeared healthy at that time. On 26 January, IMA Jabalpur President Dr Richa Sharma received information that Dr Srivastava’s condition had severely deteriorated. On 15 January, individuals linked to the Gayatri Parivar Trust were allegedly taking her away in a car, but neighbours intervened and, after a police complaint, she was brought back home. Following further complaints, Jabalpur Collector Raghavendra Singh directed her admission to Medical College under the supervision of a five-doctor team. The Collector has ordered an investigation into the alleged conspiracy to usurp her property and assured legal action where necessary.