Ex-Akali MLA Babbehali’s son, 8 others booked
GURDASPUR : The district police on Sunday booked former Akali MLA Gurbachan Singh Babbehali's son Amarjot Singh Babbehali, director of the seven-storeyed AGM Mall Private Limited here and eight others for allegedly grabbing property worth crores, execution of sale deeds by preparing a forged power of attorney of a dead person and misusing official power and committing theft of stamp duty.
The case has been registered under Sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 120-B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.
A former Babbehali panchayat member, Malook Singh, had complained to the senior superintendent of police on August 1, 2017 demanding an inquiry into the alleged land fraud and registration of a criminal case against the erring persons.
An inquiry was conducted into the matter,but no case was registered.
Meanwhile Malook Singh moved the Punjab and Haryana high court following which the high court passed orders on September 1,2017 directing the SSP to conduct an inquiry into the complaint and file a case against the erring persons.
The other co-accused in the FIR included Satish Kumar of Thanewal, Hira Singh, Roop Lal, both residents of Babbehali, three nambardars Ram Lal, Darshan Kumar and Prem Nath, Vipin Kumar and Vinod Kumar,all residents of Gurdaspur.
Deputy superintendent of police (investigation) Gurbans Singh Bains had found the nine people guilty.
The matter involves 5 kanals 11 marlas of land belonging to Param Hans Nath, who had died on October 12, 2003. Showing him a resident of Pathankot, his bogus power of attorney was allegedly prepared in favour of one Satish Kumar of Thanewal at the Bamial sub tehsil.
On the basis of the bogus power of attorney, Satish Kumar sold off 2 kanals and 4 marlas for ₹5.5 lakh on June 8, 2004 to Hira Singh of Babbehali,and 3 kanals and 7 marlas to Roop Lal for ₹8.37 lakh on June 9, 2014.
The real value of the property is worth crores.
Later, on the basis of these bogus sale deeds, the land was allegedly leased out for 99 years in the name of Amarjot Singh Babbehali to raise the AGM Mall at the Hanuman Chowk.