By Ashraf Padanna/Thiruvananthapuram

Differences have broken out among members of an Indian family over what should be done with the compensation amount paid by the Saudi government for a resting place for pilgrims at Makkah.

A section of the family claiming inheritance rights opposes repatriation of the compensation amount.  According to them, Mayin Kutty Keyi, a trader from Malabar, built the Keyi Rubath in Saudi Arabia in 1848, for the benefit of the pilgrims from the region and proceeds from the same should not be used for any other purpose.

The Saudi government had in 1971 deposited 1.4mn Saudi riyals with the Auqaf department as compensation after taking over the Keyi Rubath land. The money, however, has remained unclaimed as no heir was identified.

The Kerala state government last week appointed a nodal officer to look into the matter and advice on the funds.

Soon, members of the Arakkal family too staked claim to the money. Keyi had married the then ruler of the Arakkal dynasty in Kannur, the only Muslim royalty in Kerala. However, the Keyis and Arakkals are matriarchal families and property inheritance is always the right of the children of its female members.

The Keyi family argues that Indian authorities had confirmed C V Moideen Kutty Keyi, who belongs to the second generation of the trader and C V Aluppi Keyi, who represents the third generation, as the sole heirs. The family wishes to spend the money for public good.

“Mayin Kutty Keyi built the 21-room facility as a resting place for pilgrims from Malabar and it belongs to them. The money should be spent for a similar purpose,” insists C P Alippy Keyi, general secretary of Keyi Rubath Hereditary Committee. “It should be used for building a new resting place for Hajis”.

According to C P Alippy Keyi, legal rights of all properties acquired by Keyi and his uncle Moosa Kakka now rests with the Keyi family and so did the Keyi Rubath.

However, the Arakkal family is ready with a list of 45 legal claimants of the assets of Mayin Kutty Keyi, who is related to them through marriage.

“This is not the question of money but our legal right on Keyi Rubath and the strength of our heritage. We have valid historic documents to prove it and we will go ahead with it,” said Aliraja Mohamed Rafi, son of the last sultana of the dynasty, Aysha Aliraja, who died in 2006.