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NEIGHBOURS: PHOOLAN DEVI
MURDER
Loose Chain Of Events
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DISPUTED LEGACY: Sister Munni (top) and husband Umed are among
the many who have staked a claim to Phoolan's properties
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The fugitives are
no strangers to the world of crime. Among other things, they have been
involved in a broad daylight robbery of a Punjab National Bank branch
in Dehradun. Pankaj's name also figures in an FIR (385) lodged on December
11, 1986, at Hardwar's Jwalapur police station for violation of excise
laws. His father had provided surety for his bail. Perhaps as part of
the game plan, on July 18 his father or someone on the senior Rana's behalf
withdrew the surety. So "Pankaj" was back in Hardwar jail. But
on July 26, the surety was returned so once again Pankaj was out on bail.
The same is the case with his accomplice Rajinder Singh.
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THE UNDECIDED STAKE
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1.
Among those who will fight for Phoolan's properties are mother Mulla,
sister Munni, husband Umed Singh and two former husbands.
2.
The police estimate that the total worth of her properties is around
Rs 3 crore.
3.
Phoolan owns a house in south Delhi, and in Uttar Pradesh a plot
in Mirzapur, another one at Badohi and a farm house in Bhangel.
4.
The liquid assets in the banks add up to Rs 1 crore. It includes
royalties from her biographies, films and advance payment for a
film that was not shot.
5.
Umed Singh has announced the formation of a trust to control the
estate.
6.
There are legal complications arising out of the ambiguities over
Phoolan's marriage to three men.
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Now the intrigue. It has been established that
Pankaj and his accomplices were involved in the murder. Then how did the
proxies enter the jail during the crucial period, while those accused
were roaming free without bail? Pankaj's father and brother are also missing.
The Uttaranchal Police are probing the confusion the proxies have created.
One who always sought the limelight, Pankaj had
earlier lodged a false complaint in Dehradun about his green Maruti being
stolen. He had claimed that since he was contesting the college union
elections he had been kidnapped and the car taken away at gunpoint.
Piecing together the puzzle has not been easy,
but investigators see a "perfect" plan to derail the prosecution
at a later stage by providing alibis. "We are dealing with someone
who not only has a criminal bent of mind, but knows how to play with the
system both inside and outside jails, and even in courtrooms," says
Delhi Police Joint Commissioner (crime) K.K. Paul, who is heading the
investigation.
Hardly have the embers from Phoolan's last rites
died down than the fight for her estate has started. In fact it has already
taken an ugly turn (see box). Phoolan's mother Mulla, sister Munni, husband
Umed Singh, and her former husbands have staked their claims. Singh has
also declared the formation of a trust to control her estates, the worth
of which is a couple of crore rupees. In death too, it seems, Phoolan's
legacy is unlikely to be left alone.
At least, not soon.
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