M A I N   N E W S

Realtors turn Punjab legislators’ housing dreams into ‘Risky’ business
Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service

Use money to fund flick ‘Jatt Risky’ Around 40 current and former legislators reportedly paid Rs 13.38 crore to two land developers who promised to get them 25 acres of land at Kailon village in Mohali The payments were made through cheques by the Seven Star Welfare Society, floated by the MLAs. But the money was used to fund Punjabi movie “Jatt Risky”, starring Surveen Chawla The society members include MLAs Laal Singh, Brahm Mohindra, Harchand Kaur and Ajit Inder Singh Mofar; and former legislators Mangat Rai Bansal, Harish Rai Dhanda and Madan Lal

Chandigarh, September 3
The dream of owning a house in Mohali turned out to be a “risky” proposition for over 40 current and former legislators of Punjab with two land developers allegedly diverting their money to fund a Punjab movie, “Jatt Risky”.

The legislators were allegedly duped by developers Narinder Bhatia, once a close aide of an SGPC member, and Narwinder Singh. While the MLAs reportedly paid Rs 13.38 crore to the two, Narwinder, who was paid the majority sum, used the money to produce the film.

Narwinder received the payment through cheques from the Seven Star Welfare Society, floated by the MLAs. He later cashed the cheques and used the money to fund the movie, starring Surveen Chawla in female lead.

With a majority of the movie having been filmed, Narwinder was hoping to sell its distribution rights and earn a neat profit.

But the “powerful” members of the housing society got suspicious after they did not get the land promised to them in Sector 113-114, on the Kharar-Landran road, in Mohali. The MLAs, including Laal Singh, Brahm Mohindra, Harchand Kaur, Ajit Inder Singh Mofar, and some former legislators, including Mangat Rai Bansal, Harish Rai Dhanda (chairman of the society) and Madan Lal (president), besides relatives of some high-profile police officers have now approached the police.

The inquiry is being conducted by Senior Superintendent of Police (Mohali) Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti after the MLAs approached Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Society members said they were promised a piece of land measuring 25 acres at Kailon village in Mohali by Narinder.

The society initially gave some cheques to Narinder, but he stopped taking interest in the project. The society members were later approached by Narwinder Singh, sarpanch of Bada Salaura village, who offered to provide them with the land on a commission basis.

The society paid him Rs 9.70 crore through cheques and he produced three “agreements to sell”, which later turned out to be fake.

SSP Bhatti said the police were investigating the case and the two, against whom complaints had been received, had agreed to either give the land or refund the money to the society.