SAD leader’s son among 8 booked in land grab case

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, February 18

A case of cheating and conspiracy has been registered against Amarjot Singh Babbehali, son of former Akali Dal MLA Gurbachan Singh Babbehali, for allegedly grabbing property through forged documents.

Eight other persons, including Satish Kumar, former chairman of Gurdaspur Improvement Trust, have also been named in the FIR registered today at the City police station.

Advocate Rajesh Chauhan, appearing for the petitioners, claimed that the police had not named the former MLA in the FIR who had “used his influence to get forged documents prepared”. The case pertains to a piece of land on which a mall has come up near Hunaman Chowk in the heart of the city. The mall, owed by the Babbehali family, was constructed during Babbehali’s tenure as MLA from 2007-17. When the Congress came to power, work on the venture came to a standstill as many NOCs, which were “illegally” procured by the former legislator, were cancelled.

The complaint in the case, Malook Singh, is a known Congress supporter and a resident of Babbehali village.

The FIR states that Babbehali in connivance with Bamial tehsildar in Pathankot had prepared a forged power of attorney for grabbing the property. It is also alleged that stamp duty to the tune of Rs 66 lakh was evaded by Babbehali in connivance with revenue officials.

When contacted, Amarjot Singh Babbehali said they (he and his father) would hold a press conference tomorrow to put on record the “facts about the case”.

Stamp duty ‘evasion’

The FIR states that Babbehali in connivance with Bamial tehsildar in Pathankot had prepared a forged power of attorney for grabbing the property. It is also alleged that stamp duty to the tune of Rs 66 lakh was evaded by Babbehali in connivance with revenue officials