F’kot ruler’s Trust gets chairman

Tribune News Service

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Faridkot, November 22

After the death of Maharani Deepinder Kaur, the second legal heir of Maharaja Harinder Singh of Faridkot, her son Jai Chand Mehtab has been appointed the chairman of the Maharawal Khewaji Trust. He will be looking after royal properties worth over Rs 25,000 crore.

Deepinder Kaur was the chairperson of the Trust before her death. Mehtab belongs to former princely estate Bardhaman in West Bengal. The Trust members elected him as new chairman this week after the bhog ceremony of her mother here on November 18.

Amrit Kaur, the elder sister of Deepinder Kaur, is in a protracted legal tussle with the Maharawal Khewaji Trust over her claim over the property, so Mehtab’s appointment as the chairman of the Trust will further intensify this legal fight on the question of governance of these properties.

According to a will, purportedly executed by Maharaja Harinder Singh on June 1, 1982, Amrit Kaur was stripped of all benefits from the vast property of her father for marrying against his wishes. As per this will, the Maharaja had bequeathed his entire estate property to the Maharwal Khewaji Trust. Deepinder Kaur was appointed a chairperson of the Trust and Mahdeep Inder Kaur was the vice-chairperson, who died spinster in 2003. After Mahdeep’s death, Mehtab got vice-chairmanship of the Trust.