Picture of Faridkot House in Delhi, which is part of the Rs 20,000 crore property in legal tangle
In a fresh twist, nephew of former Maharaja of Faridkot Harinder Singh Brar has decided to challenge a recent court order which granted inheritance of assets worth Rs 20,000 crore to the late ruler's two surviving daughters.
Kanwar Bharatinder Singh, son of the Maharaja's younger brother, late Kanwar Manjitinder Singh, has staked claim to the property citing the "Rule of Primogeniture", according to which property rights are granted to first born son or eldest living male blood relative.
"It has been appearing in the media that the will of the Maharaja of 1982, which a court in Chandigarh has declared as illegal and void, was only being disputed by the daughter Rajkumari Amrit Kaur," Kanwar Bharatinder Singh's son Amarinder Singh Brar told reporters today.
"This is incorrect as the will in question is also being disputed by late Kanwar Manjitinder Singh, the Maharaja's younger brother, now represented by Kanwar Bharatinder Singh, his (Manjitinder's) son," Amarinder said, adding that the order will be challenged before a Sessions Court in Chandigarh.
Amarinder, who was accompanied by his lawyers, said Bharatinder was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Mohali after his knee transplant surgery.
"Kanwar Bharatinder Singh will soon file an appeal in exercise of his rights under the Civil Procedure Code," he said.
Amarinder claimed that the Maharaja had executed another registered will dated May 22, 1952, regarding certain specific properties.
He claimed that this will was undisputed till date and should "automatically" apply after the 1982 will was declared as illegal by court.
After a two-decade long battle, the ruler's two daughters were granted inheritance to assets including the Faridkot House at Copernicus Marg near India Gate, palace and Manimajra Fort in Faridkot in Punjab, properties in Mashobra, Shimla, besides bank deposits, jewellery and vintage cars including a Rolls Royce.