Caretaker trust moves apex court

WHAT’S AT STAKE

FARIDKOT:THE Maharawal Khewaji Trust that manages the ₹20,000-crore worth properties of the last ruler of erstwhile princely state of Faridkot, Maharaja Harinder Singh Brar, has moved the Supreme Court against the Punjab and Haryana HC order declaring as forged his (Brar’s) will dated June 1, 1982, in its favour. The trust has filed a special leave petition in the apex court and the matter has been listed for August 13.

The high court had upheld a Chandigarh court’s order on June 1, awarding majority share in the ₹20,000-crore property of Brar to his two daughters — Amrit Kaur, who challenged the will in 1992, and Deepinder Kaur. The court held that descendants of Manjit Inder Singh, the last ruler’s brother, would get their mother Mohinder Kaur’s share.

As of the will in dispute, the court observed, trustees conspired to create the will to take over the property. “The will is proved to be forged, fictitious, fabricated and shrouded with suspicious circumstances,” the court order said.in 2013, the Chandigarh court had declared the will, which had entitled Maharawal Khewaji Trust as the caretaker of the properties, as illegal and void and granted inheritance to Brar’s two daughters— Amrit and Deepinder.

Trust CEO Jagir Singh Sran said the will was “real” and they have challenged the HC verdict. “It’s a registered will and there are proofs of its authenticity. Our counsels have included some new facts in the petition. On July 10, on directions of Maharaja’s daughter Amrit Kaur, some men had made an attempt to take possession of the Faridkot Raj Mahal illegally and the police are investigating the matter,” he said.