M A I N   N E W S

Bansi’s house locked over family squabbles
Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 11
The Delhi Police has locked the house in which the iron man of Haryana, Bansi Lal, spent his last years following a dispute among his siblings. His admirers will be distressed to know that the unfortunate incident took place a day after his "tehrvin" was held on April 9.

According to sources close to Mrs Kiran Choudhary, widow of Surender Singh, younger son of Bansi Lal, house no 9/5, Sarvpriya Vihar, Delhi, in which Bansi Lal used to stay, was in the name of her late husband. Surender Singh had bequeathed the house to his daughter Shruti.

The sources said the CRPF picket posted outside the house was to be withdrawn following the death of Bansi Lal on April 9. Ms Shruti sent two of her men from Bhiwani the same day as "watchmen".

They alleged that Mr Ranbir Mahendra, the MLA son of Bansi Lal, rang up the Malviya Nagar police station in Delhi, under which Sarvpriya Vihar falls, that some “musclemen” were trying to take possession of the house. Ms Shruti's men were then taken to the police station.

When Ms Shruti along with her mother reached Delhi late in the night of April 9 after the "tehrvin", she got a call from her men urging her to save them from the police.

The SHO reportedly told Ms Shruti that the police had acted on the complaint of Mr Mahendra and if she was the owner of the house, she should come to the police station with the title deed.

It was only after Ms Shruti and Mrs Choudhary satisfied the police about the ownership of the house that her men were let off.

The sources said on April 10, Bansi Lal's MLA son-in-law, Mr Somvir Singh, along with his mother-in-law, Mrs Vidya Devi, went to the Sarvpriya Vihar house.

Before reaching the house, they informed the Malviya Nagar police station that they had to collect belongings of the widow of Bansi Lal, but feared that they might not be allowed to enter the house. Therefore, the police help should be given to them.

Apprehensive of a trouble, the police locked the house barring entry to anyone.

When contacted, Mr Mahendra said he was informed in Bhiwani by the servants staying in the Sarvpriya Vihar house on April 9 that certain "musclemen" were trying to gain entry into the house. He then rang up the Malviya Nagar police station.

Admitting that the house belonged to Mr Surender Singh, who had willed it to Ms Shruti, Mr Mahendra said under the Hindu Succession Act, after the death of a son, one-third share of his property belonged to his mother.

However, he also said that his mother had willed that after her death, her share in Mr Surender Singh's property should go to Ms Shruti. He denied there was any dispute in the family.