Faridkot feud to intensify after royal scion’s death

Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service
Faridkot, November 12

After the death of Maharani Deepinder Kaur, a legal heir and daughter of Maharaja Harinder Singh, the last ruler of the erstwhile princely estate of Faridkot, the feud over the Rs 25,000-crore properties of the royal family is set to intensify.

Deepinder Kaur was the chairperson of the Maharawal Khewaji Trust, which is looking after the properties. She died here on Sunday.

Harinder Singh had died on October 16, 1989, leaving behind daughters Deepinder Kaur and Mahdeep Inder Kaur as his legal heirs under the Hindu Succession Act. Mahdeep had died a spinster in 2003, according to Navjot Singh Behniwal, advocate of the Trust. The Maharaja’s lone son, Tikka Harmohinder Singh, had died on October 13, 1981, while his eldest daughter, Amrit Kaur, is still alive.

According to the will purportedly executed by Harinder Singh on June 1, 1982, Amrit Kaur was disinherited for marrying against his wishes.

As per the controversial will, the Maharaja had bequeathed his entire property to the Trust. Deepinder was appointed its chairperson and Mahdeep, its vice chairperson.

After Mahdeep’s death, Deepinder’s son Jai Chand Mehtab was made the vice chairperson. He is the frontrunner to take over as the chairman after his mother’s death.

A Chandigarh resident, Amrit Kaur had challenged her father’s will in 2010, claiming that some of his old servants had executed it to retain control over the property.

In July 2013, the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chandigarh, had declared the will void and named Deepinder and Amrit Kaur as legal heirs.

Members of the Trust challenged this decision. In March 2018, the Chandigarh District Court upheld the lower court’s verdict. Now, the Trust has challenged the verdict in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The legal battle will now be fought not only by Amrit Kaur and the Trust, but also by Deepinder’s children.

She is the eldest surviving child and there is no male who can take priority over her under the rules of lineal primogeniture, claims Amrit Kaur.

Rs 25,000-cr properties at stake

• Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi
• Industrial plot at Okhla, New Delhi 
• Riviera Apartment, The Mall, New Delhi
• Faridkot House, Mashobra, Shimla
• Raj Mahal and Qila Mubarik, Faridkot
• 31 kanals and 15 marlas near Kaimbwala, Chandigarh
• Surajgarh Fort, Manimajra