Family fights over Phoolan's property

By Devesh K. Pandey

NEW DELHI, AUG. 1. The fast unfolding ``property dispute'' between the slain Samajwadi Party MP, Ms.Phoolan Devi's husband, Mr. Umed Singh, and other members of her family turned murky today with both parties trading charges in full public glare.

At a crowded press conference inside Ms. Phoolan Devi's 44 Ashoka Road residence here, Mr. Singh announced his decision to float a trust for backward sections of society: ``Shoshit Varg Utthan Trust''. He claimed that his slain wife's family members had been taken into confidence and they had endorsed the decision. ``The Trust, to be run by Phoolan's supporters, will work for upliftment of the downtrodden,'' he declared.

Further details, he said, would be revealed only after an appraisal of the movable and immovable property by a chartered accountant.

But sharp differences between Mr. Umed Singh and other members of Ms.Phoolan Devi's family became apparent at the press conference with the slain leader's younger sister, Munni, striking a discordant note. She alleged that Mr. Umed Singh had swindled the money Phoolan got from films made on her biography. Other family members also joined in the chorus, accusing Mr. Singh of having grabbed Phoolan's her property estimated at crores.

With Munni turning the heat on, Mr. Umed Singh had to briefly abandon the press conference. Shouting at the top of her voice, Munni hinted at Mr. Umed Singh's ``involvement'' in Phoolan's murder, stating that he was absent from the house when it all happened. She also asserted that Mr. Umed Singh knew the conspirators well.

Even as the drama unfolded, other relatives joined in. They alleged that Mr. Umed Singh had married Phoolan with an eye on her property and used to give money to his first wife who lives at Timarpur in West Delhi. ``He has not even divorced his first wife and has two daughters from her,'' one of them charged.

Refuting all charges, an unfazed Mr. Singh said the decision to form a trust had been taken to avoid any dispute in the family over property. He asserted that he had divorced his first wife about six months before he married Phoolan.

Training his gun on Munni, Mr. Singh alleged that she was levelling charges against him ``as her desire to get a share in the property was not fulfilled''.

As for allegations about his involvement in the murder, Mr. Singh declared that the police had given him a clean chit so far. ``Everything will become public with the disclosure of the motive behind the murder,'' he added.

Earlier, the Samajwadi Party leader, Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav, visited Phoolan's residence and had an hourlong meeting with Mr. Umed Singh. The proceedings, however, were kept secret. Mr. Umed Singh said Mr. Mulayam Singh had come to console the grieving family as he was a father-figure to Phoolan.

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