Betrayed Legacy of Khetri

Under the shadow of the State

 Will
of

Raja Sardar Singh Khetri

and

The Last Testament

Butter Paper
 Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh of Khetri

Butter Paper
1
 WILL
This is the LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ME, Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh of Khetri,
aged 65, residing at No.5, Sardar Patel Rd, New Delhi 110021

CODICIL AND I HEREBY CANCEL AND REVOKE all my previous Wills and Codicils
WHEREAS
A. I am a Citizen of India, subject to the Hindu Law of Succession, and am under the appropriate provisions of the Indian Succession Act and other laws,
KHETRI HOUSE fully competent to make this Will and to create the Trusts herein.
5 S PATEL MARG B. I have no relative of the class mentioned in Section 118 of the Indian Succession Act. Nevertheless, to avoid false claims, it is my intention to have this
Will deposited in safe custody with the appropriate authority as provided by law.
NEW DELHI 110 021
C. I am possessed of immovable and movable assets as appear from my Wealth Tax Returns.
NOVEMBER 7th, 1985
NOW
My dear Executors and Trustees
1. I hereby appoint the following persons to be and to act Jointly as Executors hereof, provided that they may by unanimity, appoint from time to time one
My Will dated 30th October 1985 of their number as Managing Executor:
a. Lady Olga Manning of Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey
There are some points about the Administration of my Estate and the Trusts I have created regarding which I wish
b. Mr. Daniel Latifi, Senior Lawyer, A-20 Neeti Bagh, New Delhi-110049
to express my behests to you. The first concerns travelling expenses of the UK resident trustees (Lady Manning and c. Mr. Romesh Thapar, 19 Kautilya Marg, New Delhi-110021
subsequently Mr Francis Baring). They will as I understand it, normally be paying their own plane fares or passage from d. Mr. Parmeshwar Prasad, Mgr Khetri Investment Corporation (p) Ltd, 1/9 Rani Jhansi Rd, New Delhi 110005
and to the UK, when they wish to visit India, as Lady Manning has been doing hitherto. 2. I also appoint the said Executors to be Trustees of the Trust hereby created
3. I hereby bequeath and give unto and to my said Executors and Trustees, (save and except such specific assets or properties of mine as I may exclude
This arrangement may continue. The UK based Trustees and Executors will primarily make their contribution herefrom by any specific legacy that I may, hereafter make in favour of any person, by this Will or by any Codicil; hereto that I may make) ALL THOSE
to the administration of the Trust by their expertise and advice regarding the management of the foreign assets and properties, movable or immovable, anywhere, upon trust as below appears.
operations of the Trust, for which their presence in India will be unnecessary. 4. The name of the Trust shall be the KHETRI TRUST
5. The Trusts herein are:
The Hon. Mr Francis Baring, in particular, being a Banker, connected with Baring's Bank, for which he is now The promotion of Education, that is to say the advancement of the study of science, literature and the arts, by the grant of scholarships to deserving
working, is well equipped to advise the Trust regarding portfolio management of foreign investments. students for study in India or abroad, by the establishment of libraries, reading rooms, schools, academies, laboratories, research centres or other
institutions, as the funds allow and the Trustees think fit. Provided that the Trustees shall be competent, with the sanction of the High Court, to vary,
A building has been presented by me to the Rama Krishna Mission of Jaipur for the purpose of a school in Khetri. enlarge or restrict the objects of this Trust.
Unfortunately their conduct (in the matter of recognition or appreciation of the gift they received) was disappointing. 6. The Executors and Trustees shall be entitled to remuneration for their services to these Trusts at such amount as they may fix, not exceeding Rs. 3000
They should not be given any further help financial or other, direct or indirect. per month. This may, in appropriate circumstances, be increased with the sanction of the High Court, upon application made in that behalf. Whenever
she is in India Lady Manning shall be entitled to free residence and travel at and between Khetri House New Delhi, Khetri House Jaipur and Sukh Mahal
This is a Codicil to my above Will. Khetri, with arrangements and facilities as she enjoyed in my lifetime.
7. The number of Trustees shall not at any time be fewer than three nor more than five. In the event of the death, resignation or incapacity of any
Yours
Trustee the surviving or remaining Trustees shall be empowered to appoint a trustee or trustees in this behalf. Provided that on the death, resignation
Sd/- or incapacity of Lady Manning named in paragraph 1 hereinabove, the Hon Francis Baring, s/o Lord and Lady Northbrook, East Stratton House, East
Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh of Khetri Stratton, Winchester, Hants, residing at Flat No.26, 333 Kings Rd, London SW3 shall replace here as Executor and Trustee.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HERETO SET MY HAND THIS THIRTIETH DAY OF OCTOBER 1985 AT NEW DELHI, in the presence
Witnesses of Witnesses known to me whose names, addresses and signatures appear below.
(1) Sd/- Sd/-
P.N. Khanna, 14/15 Cannaught Place, New Delhi RAJA BAHADUR SARDAR SINGH OF KHETRI
(2) Sd/- WITNESSES
R.K. Singh (Advocate), G 42, Saket, New Delhi
1. Sd/- 2. Sd/-
(P.N. Khanna) (Ravi Karan Singh)
14/15F, Connaught Place Advocate
New Delhi-1 C/o Daniel Latifi, Sr. Ad
61, Supreme Court, New Delhi-1

2 3
 Members of The Constituent Assembly in 1952
Testator, Raja Sardar Singh Khetri, is standing 2nd from the Left in the 2nd row
Sitting (L to R) :
Standing 1st Row (L to R) :
Standing 2nd Row (L to R) :
Standing 3rd Row (L to R) :
Standing 4th Row (L to R) :
4
MEMBERS OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY OF INDIA (1952)
Frank Anthony, Seth Govind Das, Maharaja of Darbhanga, Khurshedlal, N. Madhava Rao, Renuka Ray, Hon. Dr. Jivraj N. Mehta, Hon. Mohanlal Saksena,
K.M. Munshi, Hansa Mehta, O.P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar, Annie Mascarene, Purnima Banerjee, Hon. Anugrah Narain Sinha, Hon. Sri Krishna Sinha,
A.V.Thakkar, Lakshmi Kanta Maitra, Hon.R.R. Diwakar, M. Ananthasaynam Ayyangar, Hon. N.V. Gadgil, N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, Hon. Shri. Jairamdas
Daulatram, Hon. M.Abul Kalam Azad, Hon. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Hon. S. Baldev Singh, Hon. Dr.John Mathai, Hon. G V. Mavalankar, Hon. Rajkumari
Chronology
Amritkaur, Hon. Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr. H. C. Mookerjee, Hon. Dr. Rajendra Prasad (President), T.T. Krishnamachari, Hon. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Hon.
Jagjivan Ram, Hon. Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, Hon. Dr. Syamaprasad Mookherjee, Hon. B.G. Kher, Abdul Halim Ghanzavi, Hon. Pt. Ravishanker Shukla, Hon.
Gopinath, Bardoloi, T. Prakasam, Hon. Rev. J.J.M. Nichoes Roy, Hon. K.C. Niyogi, Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, K.C. Reddy, P. Govinda Menon, Damodar Swarup
Seth, Prof. Nibaran Chandra Laskar, Dr. Raghuvira, Hon. K. Santhanam, D.B. Matari, Rohini Kumar Chowdhry, Babu Ramanarayan Singh, Laxminarayan Sahu,
R.K. Sidhwa, Sucheta Kripalani, Maharaja of Parlakimedi, B. Das, Jaspatrai Kapoor.
Trustees Of Khetri Trust
Hon. K.B. Sahay, Syamanandan Sahay, Tajmal Hussain, Sarangdhar Sinha, Prof. N.G. Ranga, Dr. Raghunandan Prasad, Kazi Syed Karimuddin, Jafar Imam,
Mohamed Tahir, Mohammed Hifazur Rahman, Latifur Rahman, M. Sri Narayan Mehta, Hon. Binodanand Jha, Guptanath Singh, Dipnarayan Sinha,
Jadubans Sahay, Amiyo Kumar Ghosh, R.E. Patel, Lt. Col. Brij Raj Narayan, Sardar Suchet Singh, Upendranath Burman, Boniface Lakra, Brajeshwar Prasad,
Master Nandlal, Ram Sahay, B.N. Munawali, Manikyalal Varma, R.B. Vijayvargiya, Balwantsinha Mehta, Sitaram S. Jajoo, Thakur Lalsingh, Chandraikaram,
Prof. Yeshwant Rai, Dr. Dharam Prakash, Pragilal, Bhagwan Deen, Dayaldas Bhagat, P Kakkan, Davindranath Samanta, Thakur Chhedilal, Ramchandra Gupta,
V.N. Tiwari, K.C. Sharma, Jainarayan Vyas, Kallur Subha Rao, B.N. Biyani, Gokullal Asava, Lala Achint Ram, Jaswant Singhji, Girijashanker Guha, P.D. Himmat
Singhka, H.J. Khandekar, S. Nagappa, Aribahadur Gurung, C.M. Poonacha, V. Ramaiah, S.C. Mazumdar, U.S. Mallaya, Surendra Mohan Ghosh.
Dr. P.K. Sen, Sardar Singh Bahadur of Khetri, A. Thanu Pillai, Banarasi Prasad Jhunjhunwala, Jagatnarayanlal, Hussain Imam, Kishorimohan Tripathi,
Mohammed Ahmed Kazmi, Abdur Rauf, B.M. Gupta, Mahesh Prasad Sinha, Col. B.H. Zaidi, Dr. P. Subbarayan, S.V. Krishnamoorthy Rao, R.C. Upadhyaya,
K.P. Yadav, Shantanu Kumar Das, Thakur Kishan Singh, L.K. Bharti, V.C. Kesva Rao, Bhagwat Prasad, Jaipal Singh, M. Thirumul Rao, G. Durga Bai, Kamla
Chowdhary, Dakshayani Velayudahan, Ammu Swaminathan, Begum Aizaz Rasul, T. Siddalingaiya, Mohanlal Gautam, B.L. Sondhi, Mahavir Tyagi, R.L. Malviya,
Ramprasad Potai, Sarangdhar Das, K. Hanumanthiya, H.V. Kamath, H. Guruv Reddy, Lala Rajkanwar, Sardar Ranjit Singh, Padampat Singhania, M.A. Muthiah
Chettiar, Syed Mohammed Sadulla, T.J. M. Wilson, Acharya Jugal Kishore. Ch. Hyder Hussian, K.T.M. Ahmed Ibrahim, B. Pocker, G.K. Vijay Vargiya, Mohd.
Ismail, O.V. Alagesan, C. Subramaniam, Hiralal Shastri, Gokulbhai D. Bhatt, Lt. Col. K.R. Dalel Singhji, Pt. Hiradaynath Kunzru, Dr. Bakshi Tekchand.
Pranlal Thakurlal Munshi, Kuldhar Chaliha, Mukut Biharilal Bhargava, Vinayak Rao B. Vaidya, Sardar Hukam Singh, Mehoob Ali Beg, Ch. Ranbir Singh, Nand
Kishore Das, Thakurdas Bhargava, Dr. Joseph Alban D'Souza, T. Channiah, Capt. Awdesh Pratap Singh, Shambunath Shukla, K.M. Jadhe, H.V. Pataskar,
R. B. Kumbhar, Hon. N. Sanjeeva Reddy, D. Govinda Doss, S. Bhupendra Singh Man, H. Siddverapa, P. Kunhiraman, A.K. Menon, Bhawanji Arjan Khimji,
Ram Sahay Tiwari, Mannulal Dwivedi, Khandubhai Desai, K.N. Desai, C.C. Shah, Dr. Y.S. Parmar, Darbar Gopaldas A. Desai, Balwant Rai G. Mehta, Jaisukhlal
Hathi, Ajit Prasad Jain, Sardar Joginder Singh Balkrishna Sharma, M.L. Chattopadhya, Hargovind Pant, R.V. Dhulekar, Masurya Din, Bansidhar Mishra,
Hon. G.S. Gupta, B.A. Maudloi, S.T. Dharmadhikari, Kusumkant Jain, Raj Bahadur, Deshbandhu Gupta, Bishwanath Dass, M.C. Veera Babu, V. Nadimuthu
Pillai, T. A. Ramlingam Chettiar, K. Kamaraj, Govind Malviya, S. Nijlingappa, Hon. Satyanarayan Sinha.
Kamalapati Tripathi, Shibbanlal Saksena, Pt. Motiram Bagra, Molana Mohamed Syed Masudi, Mirza Mohd. Afzal Beg, Sunderlal, Satish Chandra, Yudhishtar
Butter Paper
Mishra, Arunchandra Guha, V. Subramaniam, M. Satyanarayana, B.K. Das, Satish Chandra Samanta, Jasimuddin Ahmad, Dr. Monomohan Doss, P.T. Chako,
K. A. Mohamed, R. Sankar, P.S. Natraja Pillai, B. Shiva Rao, Hon. Rajkrishna Bose, V.I. Muniswamy Pillai, V.S. Sarvate, Dr. P.S. Deshmukh, Gopal Narayan,
P.L. Narsimha Raju, L. S. Bhatkar, R.M. Nalvade, V.D. Tripathi, Algu Rai Shastri, A. Dharamdas, H.V. Tripathi, Cyan Guru Mukh Singh Musafir, Nawab Mohd.
Ismail Khan, Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Lal Mohan Pati (5Men Police), Kala Venkata Rao, Naziruddin Ahmed, Kaka Bhagwant Roy.
 Trustees Of Khetri Trust

Profile of Khetri Trust Board of Trustees

Date of Date of
Name Profile
Appointment Resignation

Mr. Romesh Thapar 31st January Demise Romesh Thapar was a journalist, political commentator, member of the Communist
1987 September 1987 Party and founder-editor of the magazine Seminar. Thapar served at various times as
Nominated by Raja director of the India International Centre, the National Books Development Board of
Sardar Singh the India, Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), and as vice-chairperson of the
National Bal Bhavan, Delhi. Thapar grew especially close to Indira Gandhi and became
a part of the inner circle in the 1960’s & 1970’s. However, after the Emergency of 1975,
they parted ways.
Romesh Thapar was the first person to raise the issue for Freedom of Press in 1950
in his case against the State of Madras. In the landmark judgement of the Supreme
Court, restrictions were put on the powers of the State to interfere with individual
rights, and it paved the way for other judgements that championed the cause of the
individual against the might of the State.

Lady Olga Manning 31st January Demise Lady Olga manning was the wife of Brig.Gen. Sir William Henry Manning, he served
1987 17th September as Deputy Commissioner and Consul-General for British Central Africa and Commander
Nominated by Raja of its Armed Forces. He was Brigadier-General of the King’s African Rifles, a rank
1993
Sardar Singh which was granted to him in perpetuity. He served as Governor of Jamaica and later
as Governor of Ceylon. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB),
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KCMG), Knight Grand Cross of
the Order of St Michael and St George.
Lady Olga Manning and Brig.-Gen Sir Henry Manning’s daughter Rowena Margret
Manning married Lord Francis John Lord Northbrook and their son is the present
Frances Thomas, Lord Northbrook, nominated by Raja Sardar Singh as Trustee-
Executor of his Will.

Mr. Danial Latifi 31st January Resignation Danial Latifi was a third-generation nationalist, his grandfather, the late Justice
1987 25th February Badruddin Tyabji, was the president of the Indian National Congress in 1887.
Nominated by Raja 1987 In 1935, Latifi joined St John’s College, Oxford, to study jurisprudence. While in
Sardar Singh England, along with the late Mohan Kumaramangalam and the late Feroz Gandhi, he
founded the Federation of Indian Student Societies in Great Britain and Ireland, which
played an important role in the foundation of the All India Students’ Federation. On his
return to India in 1939, he joined the freedom struggle as well as legal practice with
Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Latifi was the first Indian to practice as barrister in the Bombay
High Court, and possibly the first Muslim to rise to position of Senior Advocate in
the Indian Supreme Court. Danial Latifi had an extraordinary career marked by his
involvement in and representation of some of the most seminal and significant (in
terms of creating important precedents) cases in Indian legal history.

Butter Paper
5
 Trustees Of Khetri Trust Trustees Of Khetri Trust

Profile of Khetri Trust Board of Trustees Profile of Khetri Trust Board of Trustees
Date of Date of Date of Date of
Name Profile Name Profile
Appointment Resignation Appointment Resignation

Mr. Parmeshwar 31st January Demise Prameshwar Prasad was a qualified Company Secretary and was in the services of the Mr. Tejbir Singh 30th October Resignation Mr. Tejbir Singh was Managing Trustee of Khetri Trust till 2008 and resigned from
Prasad 1987 9th March 2003 Raja Sardar Singh of Khetri till the time the Raja died and later continued to serve him 1993 24th August 2008 the Trust after being subjected to continuous harassment by persons posing to be
loyally with the work entrusted to him as Trustee of Khetri Trust. Elected by: Agnates of the Testator and their agents.
Nominated by Raja He was not paid any compensation for his services to Khetri Trust in spite of being the Dr. Romila Thapar He was Founder member of Ranthambore Foundation, Member National Committee
Sardar Singh only Trustee in full time service of the Trust. He died impoverished in 2003. on Management of National Parks and Sanctuaries of the Ministry of Forest &
Mr. P. Prasad
Environment, Managing Director of the Asoka Foundation, a worldwide voluntary
charity for public good. He is a well-known photographer and film maker and was
Mr. Bhaskar Mitter 8th April 1987 Resignation Bhaskar Mitter served as Chairman of Andrew Yule Group, CESC Ltd. and BOC Ltd.
given the National Award for the best documentary of the Year at the 27th National
1st December He was Director Reserve Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Unit
Elected by: Film Festival. He has co-authored the book “With Tigers in the Wild”.
1987 Trust of India, ICICI Limited, Graphite India Limited, Eveready Industries India Ltd,
Mr. Romesh Thapar Exide Industries Ltd., Gloster Jute Mills Ltd. Upper Ganges Sugar & Industries Ltd. and
Oriental Carbon & Chemicals Ltd. Lord Northbrook 30th October CURRENT Francis Thomas Baring, Lord Northbrook, is Member of the British Parliament and is
Mr. P. Prasad
Mr. Mitter was also elected President of Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Mr. Francis Baring) 1993 TRUSTEE from one of the most ennobled families in the United Kingdom. His great grandfather
Lady Olga Manning was the Viceroy of India from 1872 to 1876.
and the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India.
Nominated by Raja Lord Northbrook is one of the ninety elected hereditary peers who remain in
Sardar Singh to the House of Lords after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999. He is the son
Mr. Narottam 3rd May 1987 Resignation Narottam Sahgal graduated with a double first in law from Trinity Hall, Cambridge
substitute Lady Olga of Francis John Baring, and Rowena Margaret Manning (daughter of Lady Olga
Sehgal 15th April 1992 in the 1930’s and soon after joined the Indian Civil Services. He served as Secretary
Manning Manning).
of Home, Secretary of Defence and retired in 1975 as a permanent Secretary to the
Elected by: Government of India. Northbrook was educated at Winchester College and became a Chartered
Mr. Romesh Thapar Accountant, he was then the co-founder and Director of the award-winning Mars
After leaving Government service, he was invited to work with the Inlaks Foundation,
Asset Management and now he is a founding Trustee of Fortune Forum which works
Mr. P. Prasad as he felt very strongly that India’s brightest and best should have the chance of
extensively for Global Poverty, Global Health and Climate Change. Ex-President of the
receiving education in the world’s best Universities. With the same motivation he also
Lady Olga Manning USA Bill Clinton and Al Gore, Nobel Prize Winner and Ex-Vice president of USA are
joined the Board of Khetri Trust.
among its patrons.

Dr. Romila Thapar 20th October Resignation Dr. Thapar served as Chairman of Khetri Trust for 20 years from 1987 to 2008.
Maharaja Gaj Singh 8th July 2003 CURRENT Gajsingh Jodhpur took over as Chairman of Khetri Trust from Dr. Romila Thapar in
1987 30 September
th
She is a renowned Indian Historian and authored more than 15 publications on
Elected by: TRUSTEE 2008 and currently holds the same position in the Trust.
2008 Indian History which are used as the best reference material in schools and colleges Elected by:
Mr. P. Prasad He is an international celebrity, many books, publications and films have been made
for the past 25 years. Dr. Thapar has received honorary doctorates from the University
Dr. Romila Thapar on and about him including the Award-Winning Documentary “The Maharaja of
Mr. Bhaskar Mitter of Chicago, the University of Oxford, Institute National des Langues et Civilizations
Mr. Tejbir Singh Marwar” by Discovery Channel.
Orientales, Paris, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Calcutta, the University
Mr. N. Sehgal He has served as Indian High Commissioner in the West Indies, concurrently
of Hyderabad, Brown University and the University of Pretoria. Lord Northbrook
accredited to Trinidad & Tabago, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia St. Vincent &
Dr. Romila Thapar is an Honorary Fellow of the School of Oriental and African Studies,
Commissioner to Antigua, St. Kitts, Montsarrat, Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos Islands.
London, where she also received her Ph.D. in 1958, and a Foreign Honorary Member
He has also been Member of Parliament and served in the Rajya Sabha.
of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2008, Romila Thapar shared the
US Library of Congress’s Kluge Prize, for Lifetime Achievement in the Humanities and Gajsingh Jodhpur has been Chairman Rajasthan State Tourism Development
Social Sciences. Corporation, Government of Rajasthan, Recipient of the Hadrian Award, presented by
the World Monument Fund and of the IATO’S Hall of Fame Award. He is the Founder of
numerous well known philanthropic institutions & Charitable Trusts for the education
of Girls, Health Care, Rural Development, Heritage, Culture and Art Conservation,
Rehabilitation of Army Widows and Personnel.

6 7
 Trustees Of Khetri Trust Trustees Of Khetri Trust

Profile of Khetri Trust Board of Trustees Profile of Khetri Trust Board of Trustees
Date of Date of Date of Date of
Name Profile Name Profile
Appointment Resignation Appointment Resignation

Maharaja Gaj Singh 8th July 2003 CURRENT Gajsingh Jodhpur is Chief Patron and Chairman of Mayo College, Ajmer, Chopasni Mr. Ajit Singh 24th August CURRENT Ajit Singh is a retired IPS officer held the post of Director General Police, Rajasthan.
TRUSTEE School Jodhpur and Hanwant Educational Society Jodhpur. He is President of Indian 2008 TRUSTEE During the course of his 30-year career in the Indian Police Service he has held many
Elected by: Heritage Hotels Association, Ambassador od Federation of International Polo, Member Elected by: important and sensitive assignments.
Dr. Romila Thapar Indian National Committee of the United World Colleges, Mumbai, Member National Dr. Romila Thapar He has been awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry, the President’s Police Medal for
Tourism Advisory Council, Fellow Paul Harris Rotary International. Distinguished Services and the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Services.
Mr. Tejbir Singh Lord Northbrook
Lord Northbrook Maharaja Gajsingh
Mr. Tejbir Singh
Mr. Vikram Lal 8th July 2003 Resignation Vikram Lal was Chairman of Eicher Group that was the first tractor manufacturer in
18th February India to become a major automotive group and owns Eicher Motors, Royal Enfield Colonel Rajesh 19th July 2012 Resignation Colonel Rajesh Sinha (Retired) is highly decorated Army Officer twice awarded the
Elected by: motorcycles, Eicher Consultancy, Wicher International and Good Earth Publishing.
2007 Sinha (Retired) 29th September Chief of the Army Staff’s commendation, received the Gallantry Award and General
Dr. Romila Thapar His deep interest in cartography resulted in the publication of the now famous Eicher Officer Commanding-in-Chief Army Training Command Commendation Card.
2019
Mr. Tejbir Singh City Map of Delhi and other Cities. He has also published “Walking with Buddha”, Elected by: He has been Colonel-in-Charge Administration of School of Artillery commanded two
World Heritage Sites in India”, Sikkim-Land of Mystique. Maharaja Gajsingh Regiments, was Executive Magistrate of the Cantonment Area and President of the
Lord Northbrook
He initiated three projects to improve primary education in Government Schools Mr. Prithvi Raj Singh Cantonment Board, Ajmer.
which has benefitted 10,000 children, he also established three schools. He was the Mr. Ajit Singh
Vice-President of the World Wild Fund-India, Vice-President of Common Cause a
public interest NGO Kanupriya Harish 29th September CURRENT Kanupriya Harish is a Development Specialist, done Master of Philosophy, from JNU,
2019 TRUSTEE New Delhi and The Bearhs Environmental Leadership course from Berkley, University
Elected by: of California in the USA.
Mr. Prithvi Raj Singh 24th August CURRENT Prithvi Raj Singh took over as Managing Trustee after the resignation of Mr. Tejbir
2008 TRUSTEE Singh in 2008. Maharaja Gajsingh She is the Executive Director-Trustee of Jal Bhagirathi Foundation, a leading NGO in the
Elected by: Lord Northbrook water sector, providing drinking water to more than 650,000 beneficiaries by creating
He is a full time voluntary social worker and development specialist involved in
Dr. Romila Thapar water harvesting structures to harvest 4000 million liters of water annually.
numerous philanthropic organizations. He has been working for the past 22 years with Mr. Prithvi Raj Singh
Lord Northbrook desert communities to provide safe and sustainable supply of drinking water in the Kanupriya has been awarded the Daegu-Gyeonbuk Water Prize at the 7th World Water
Mr. Ajit Singh
Thar desert. Forum in Korea. Her project titled “Water resource management for adaptation to
Maharaja Gajsingh
climate change through community action” was adjudged 3rd in the UN “Water for
He is the Founder Member and Managing Trustee of Jal Bhagirathi Foundation, a
Mr. Tejbir Singh Life” Award for Best Practices. Awarded the national “Times of India Social Impact
well-known Charitable Trust working in partnership with International Organizations
Award” for the year 2015. Received the Best NGO award for promoting rainwater
such as United Nations Development Program, European Union, UNICEF, World Bank,
harvesting at the 7th UNESCO-Water Digest Awards. Awarded the Sixth Dalmia Water
USAID, Transparency International etc., in 800 villages in the Thar desert in Western
and Conservation Award by the Governor of Rajasthan. Nominated as a member of the
Rajasthan.
International Steering Committee of the World Water Council, an international NGO.
He was elected by organizations from more than 50 countries as Governor of the Elected member of the Executive Committee of the World Water Council in France.
World Water Council, Marseille, France from 2015 to 2018. He is also the Founder
member and Managing Trustee of Jal Marudhara Foundation, Trustee of Jal
Baradari and Member-Executive Committee of Tarun Bharat Sangh.
He was Member of the Rajiv Gandhi Water Mission, Chaired by the Chief Minister
of Rajasthan, Member of the Steering Committee of the European Union State
Partnership Water Program of the Government of Rajasthan and many other
Government Committees on Water Management.

8 9
 Trustees Of Khetri Trust

“Only Friend in This Life”

“I have not the least shame in opening my mind to you and that I consider you as my
only friend in this life”. Vivekananda in his letter dated 22nd November 1898
to Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri.

Mani Shankar Mukherjee in his book “The Monk As Man: The Unknown
Life of Swami Vivekananda” records Narendranath Datta, as a wandering
monk reached Khetri on 4 June 1891, where he met and stayed with
Raja Ajit Singh till 27 October 1891. They developed a deep lifelong
friendship and the Raja became his chief patron, and paid for his voyage
to Chicago for the “World’s Parliament of Religions” and subsequent
tour of the USA.

Narender Nath on the suggestion of Raja Ajit Singh Khetri adopted the
name “Vivekananda” and also the Rajasthani Safa presented by the Raja
became his identity. He later recorded in his letter of 11 October 1897,
“Certain men are born in certain periods to perform certain actions in combination.

Betrayed Legacy of Khetri

Ajit Singh and myself are two such souls—born to help each other in a big work for
the good of mankind.… We are as supplement and complement.”

Vivekananda wrote a stream of letters to Ajit Singh to share his thoughts

and experiences and for financial support. On 17 December 1897, Swami

Under the Shadow of the State

Vivekanand noted that whatever little he had done for spiritual upliftment
would not have been possible had he not met the Raja of Khetri.

Swami Vivekananda on 1st December 1898 to Raja Ajit Singh Khetri: “One
thing more will I beg of you – if possible, the Rs. 100 a month for my mother be made
permanent, so that even after my death it may regularly reach her. Or even if your
Highness ever gets reasons to stop your love and kindness for me, my poor old mother
may be provided, remembering the love you once had for a poor Sâdhu. The blessings
of this good Karma shall always follow you and yours. As for me, whatever I am in the
world has been almost all through your help. Let all my love and blessings and prayers
bide by you and yours, day and night, for what I owe you already; and may the Mother,
whose play is this universe and in whose hands we are mere instruments, always protect
you from all evil.” In response, a permanent allowance of Rs. 100/- was
paid to his mother, Bhubaneshwari Dev from the Khetri treasury.

In 1958 the Ramakrishna Mission was started at the Palace of Khetri,

donated by Ajit Singh›s great-grandson, Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh, the

Butter Paper
Testator of the Will. The building has been renamed as Vivekananda
Smriti Mandir and houses Ajit-Vivek Museum celebrating the bond
between the two.

10
 Betrayed Legacy of Khetri

Under the Shadow of the State

Swami Vivekanand and Khetri

Swami Vivekananda shared a deep bond with Khetri; Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri
(grandfather of Raja Sardar Singh) was his chief patron, and the Rajasthani safa worn by
the Swamiji was presented to him when Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri proposed to change his
name from Narender Nath to Swami Vivekanand. Raja Ajit Singh and Swamiji wrote to
each other regularly; in his letter dated 22 November 1898, Swami Vivekananda wrote to
Raja Ajit Singh, “I have not the least shame in opening my mind to you and that I
consider you as my only friend in this life”.

In another letter on 1 December 1898, Swamiji requested Raja Ajit Singh to

support his mother with a pension; in response, Raja Ajit Singh set up a permanent
allowance of Rs. 100 per month for his mother, which continued to be paid even after
both friends died in the same year and age, 1902, at 39 years!

The “Diwankhana” Palace was the residence of Swami Vivekanand during his
visits to Khetri. On 15 December 1958, the Palace was donated to the “Rama Krishna
Mission” by Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh of Khetri, now famous as “Vivekanand Smriti
Mandir” in Khetri.

Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh of Khetri

Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh of Khetri was a very learned and eminent person like
his grandfather, Raja Bahadur Ajit Singh. He completed his master’s in liberal arts from
Cambridge and Bar-at-Law from Middle Temple, London, in 1942.

Sardar Singh was a distinguished lawmaker; in 1942, he joined the Jaipur State
Constitutional Reforms Committee; in 1943, the Post-war Reconstruction Committee; in
1944, the Franchise and Delimitation Committee; and in 1945, he became a member of
the Jaipur Legislative Council. Post-Independence, from 1947 to 1950, he was a member
of the Indian Constituent Assembly; from 1950 to 1952 became a member of the
Provisional Parliament and from 1952 to 1958 was a member of the Rajya Sabha. He also

Butter Paper served as the Indian Ambassador to Laos from 1958 to 1961.

11
 Last Testament of Raja Sardar Singh
Raja Sardar Singh was childless and had no heirs or successors; therefore, he
decided to break the prevalent custom of adoption and instead bequeath his vast inheritance
to benefit all the children of India.
In the same noble spirit of generosity with which he donated his Palace in memory
of Vivekanand to the Rama Krishna Mission in 1958, the Raja executed a Will on 30
October 1985, by which he bequeathed all his properties (movable and immovable) to the
youth of India to promote their education and advancement of science, literature, and arts.
He established a public charitable Trust in his Will, named the Khetri Trust, and entrusted
the Trustees to fulfil his last wishes.
To ensure that this last testament is not disputed after his death, Raja Sardar Singh
retained his friend, Mr Daniel Latifi, a leading Senior advocate of the Supreme Court, to draft
his “Will” and execute the document. On 30 October 1985, Late Raja Sardar Singh, along
with two witnesses, deposited his Will with the Registrar at ‘Tees Hazari’ Court, New Delhi, in
a sealed cover duly signed by him and his two witnesses, Mr P. N. Khanna, his Chartered
Accountant and Director of the Reserve Bank of India, the other was Mr. R.K. Singh, junior of
Mr Daniel Latifi employed to assist him for drafting, engrossing and execution of the Will.
Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh of Khetri died on 28 January 1987, recording in his will
that he had no successors and that all his properties were to be used for charitable purposes.
The Will was disputed by alleged agnates who traced a common lineage to an ancestor ten
generations apart who laid claim to his properties, aggrieved that he had chosen to donate
his Estate, which they hoped to share among themselves.
R.K. Singh, a junior lawyer who had witnessed the Will, was corrupted by the
desperate objectors to the Will. He gave evidence that he had never seen the Raja in his
lifetime, even though he had identified him before the Registrar while depositing the Will
for safekeeping. The testimony of R.K. Singh was accepted without examining it against the
evidence of his Senior, Mr Daniel Latifi, or records of the Registrar, Tees Hazari courts by
the Single Bench of the Delhi High Court. Probate was denied after the Court’s conclusion
that the Will was genuine and the signatures of the Testator were indeed authentic.
Executors of the “Will” appealed against this Judgment. In the Judgement of the Hon’ble
Division Bench of the Delhi High Court on 11 July 2023, the previous Judgement of the
single Bench was set aside. The probate of the Will was granted to its executor, Lord
Francis Thomas Northbrook, empowering him to execute the wishes of the Late Raja
Bahadur Sardar Singh, given in his Will and last Testament.
12
Action of Escheats by the Government of Rajasthan
Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh of Khetri died on 28 January 1987; in the same year, the
Government of Rajasthan brazenly declared his properties bona vacantia under the Rajasthan
Escheats Act and took possession of them, unwilling to acknowledge that his education,
vision and values inspired Raja Sardar Singh to leave his entire heritage for the promotion of
education, by the grant of scholarships to deserving students for study in India and
abroad”.
In the 36 years that the forts and palaces in Khetri have been in possession of the
Government of Rajasthan, they were relentlessly looted, plundered and destroyed until
nothing remained of value in the ruins. The plundering peaked when the 8” steel walls of the
storeroom of Khetri House, Jaipur (a luxurious three-star heritage hotel in 1987) were cut
open to empty the priceless treasures. The entire building was destroyed by arson to conceal
evidence of the theft. Even after such an enormous devastation, the state government did
nothing to investigate the theft and destruction. Today, along with other magnificent palaces
of Khetri, this building is also in ruins; 300 years of heritage and history have been destroyed.
The Hon’ble Rajasthan High Court, in the Judgement of 17.11.2016, ruled that:
“We declare that the action of the State Government is not only arbitrary but contrary to
the provisions of law and dehors the Constitutional provisions”. The Hon’ble Court
directed the State Government to hand over the properties to Khetri Trust before 12.12.2016.
The State government appealed to the Supreme Court. The Hon’ble three-judge
Bench of the Supreme Court hearing the appeal of the Government of Rajasthan was
astounded by the negligence of the State and severely reprimanded the State at every hearing
of the appeal. In the order of 18 January 2023, the Hon’ble Court observed:
We are shocked and amazed at the manner in which the State of Rajasthan has
permitted its heritage to be destroyed and continues to permit it to be destroyed while
claiming its rights under the Rajasthan Escheats Regulation Act, 1956!
The Hon’ble Supreme Court also admonished the Government of Rajasthan for the
“missing” records of the movable assets taken in custody and the disappearance of these
valuable assets.
On 11 July 2023, the Division Bench of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court probated the
Will of Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh of Khetri, after which the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in
order of 1 November 2023, observed that:
13
 “The result of this is that, as of date, the Trust is the owner of the property. We
could have put a closure to this matter, but orders passed from time to time to see that the
estate can be protected as the State Government has done little to preserve it after having
exercised the right of escheat.
The Government of Rajasthan is responsible for the loot, arson, destruction, and
damage to the movable as well as immovable properties that the State took over under
Escheats, which are in such disrepair that none of the properties are of any value in their
present condition of ruin.
Spurious Agnates, Objectors and Successors:
Raja Sardar Singh observed strict diligence in the drafting and executing his “Will”.
He was anxious that unscrupulous and dishonest persons would make deceitful claims.
Therefore, to prevent any false claims on his Estate, Raja Sardar Singh explicitly wrote at the
outset of his “Will”: “I have no relative of the class mentioned in Section 118 of the Indian
Succession Act. Nevertheless, to avoid false claims, it is my intention to have this Will
deposited in safe custody with the appropriate authority as provided by law.”
This assiduousness by the Raja Sardar Singh did not stop persons without even the
remotest relationship to the Raja from claiming the Estate as his agnates. The action of
escheats by the Government of Rajasthan had cast a shadow on the ownership of the
properties, leaving it accessible for all and sundry to enter as objectors to the “Will” with
fraudulent claims of affiliation to Raja Sardar Singh tracing back to a common ancestor
“Kishan Singh” who lived between 1709AD to 1745AD. In the past 35 years, all attempts to
prove their succession claims or being the Agnates of Raja Sardar Singh have been dismissed
by the Courts in Jaipur. No claim of kinship to the Raja Sardar Singh by any person remains.
Surender Singh Alsisar, in collaboration with his son Jagdeep Singh Alsisar, Nirbhay
Singh and others, fraudulently sold the Estate of the Raja, which was in custody of the State,
on 15th July 2002 to J.B. Choudhary and R.C. Agarwal, residents of Delhi after receiving
advance payment of Rs. 80 Lacs of the Rs. 16 crores and share of 45% from the future sale
proceeds of the properties. On 19th September 2008, J.B. Choudhary transferred his property
rights for Rs. 1.40 Crores to Shanti Swaroop Sachdeva from Panipat. In the same manner,
without restraint, the properties of Raja Sardar Singh were sold and resold numerous times by
these fallacious ‘Agnates’ under the gloom created over the Khetri Estate by the action of
Escheats by the State.
14
Khetri Trust
In the past 36 years, all the initial Executors/Trustees appointed by Raja Bahadur
Sardar Singh in his WILL have died, many others have come and gone, and the current Board
is the third generation of Trustees.
Khetri Trust, despite the properties being frozen by the State, has remained alive and
has provided scholarships to 200 orphans and underprivileged children, 160 girls for primary
schooling, and has given grants in the field of medicine and engineering for eight years. The
Government School building in Machwa Village and ten other Government schools have
been provided with classroom furniture, infrastructure for games, basketball courts, and
computer labs. In recognition of the support of Khetri Trust, the Government of Rajasthan has
awarded the Trust with the “Bhamashah Award” for its contribution to the state's educational
facilities.
Epilogue
“The ‘Will’ of every person is a sacred testament by which the departed soul
instructs those left behind on how his last wishes should be fulfilled”.
The last wishes of a distinguished personage, the Late Raja Sardar Singh Khetri, who
bequeathed his properties for a noble cause to form a corpus for public charity, have been
thwarted for 36 years by the State of Rajasthan.
The illegal action of Escheats caused a shroud of uncertainty over the ownership of
the properties, which created a favourable environment for criminals posing as agnates
collaborated to illegally “sell” the properties, for thieves to loot the properties, and for
intruders to infringe upon the properties, eventually resulting in the obliteration of the Estate
of Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh.
It is inexplicable that the State of Rajasthan has been able to consistently justify its
objection to the noble and charitable recitals of the WILL; what possible motive did the
State find that can vindicate their vehement and constant conflict with the last Testament
of Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh at the cost of the children, who were named beneficiaries of
the “Will” remains a mystery!
15
 Khetri House, Jaipur
A prominent 3-star Heritage Hotel of Jaipur from 1982 to 1987.
Taken over by the Government of Rajasthan on 29th September 1987. Closed for business in 1998.
Property robbed and looted in 2004. Buildings burnt and destroyed in 2015.
Plundered, wrecked and scorched ruins remain in custody of Government of Rajasthan in 2022.

Surrounded by bustling settlements, the Hotel Khetri House property finds itself under constant threat of
encroachment from every direction.
Butter Paper Buildings photographed
in the year 2023

16
 KHETRI HOUSE, JAIPUR

Once a haven in Jaipur, the Testator’s home now tells a tale of stolen splendor.
The lush mugal gardens, once vibrant, now lie forgotten, echoing the lost grandeur. It’s a poignant story of
neglected beauty, where the swimming pool mirrors the sorrow of stolen riches, tennis courts stand silent, and

Butter Paper the personal library mourns its lost treasures. From magnificence to desolation, it’s a plea for justice to restore
the stolen heritage of Khetri Trust.

17
 KHETRI HOUSE, JAIPUR
“Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh’s passing in 1987 marked a turning point. The same year, the Government
of Rajasthan invoked the Rajasthan Escheats Act of 1956, taking control of all 85 properties in the state.
However, on November 7, 2016, the Hon’ble Rajasthan High Court overturned this action, stating, ‘The State
Government’s move was not only arbitrary but also against the law, disregarding constitutional provisions. The
writ petition is granted, and the orders of July 3, 1987, July 22, 1987, and August 3, 1987, are annulled.”
18
KHETRI HOUSE, JAIPUR
The rooms, adorned with beautiful leather furniture and imported fixtures, now stand stripped of their
former glory. A magnificent Baccarat cut glass chandelier that once graced the main seating room has been
lost. The walls, once adorned with tapestry and paintings, now bear the scars of neglect. The Hall’s unique
centerpiece, a grand piano meticulously crafted by Steinway & Sons, stands as a silent witness to the fading
echoes of opulence.
19
 KHETRI HOUSE, JAIPUR KHETRI HOUSE, JAIPUR

The Hon’ble Supreme Court observed in an order dated 18.1.23: “It reflects a horrifying picture.
The issue of restoration of heritage undoubtedly cannot be left to the State Government who have shown no
consideration for the same. Whether ultimately the Trust is entitled to it under the Will or not or whether the
agnates and cognates are so entitled too, that is a different subject matter for which civil proceedings are on
but in these proceedings, we are concerned with how the heritage can be saved and restored.”

20 21
 KHETRI HOUSE, JAIPUR KHETRI HOUSE, JAIPUR

Letter Excerpt:
Letter Excerpt: Trust Chairman Maharaja Gajsingh Jodhpur to Rajasthan Chief Minister on 18th August 2015
Trust Secretary to Collector Jaipur on 16 February 2009
th

Meanwhile, we have good reason to believe that officers of the State Government, including some of those in your office, have worked in collusion with the
Land Mafia and facilitated them in misappropriation of the movable as well as immovable assets.
Khetri Trust has already brought to your attention in the past and do so once again that the major part of this estate has been encroached, misappropriated
and possessed by the land mafia and even in many cases the title in government records has also been illegally altered.
“Without going into the legal merits of the numerous litigations pending in various courts, I would like to draw your attention to the complete neglect of
these fabulous Khetri Heritage properties in Khetri and Jaipur which are now in a state of complete ruin.
More recently, two months ago, the Khetri House, at Jaipur, which is under the custody of the Tehsildar, Jaipur, and also operated as a 3-star Hotel till
1987, has been vandalized, all its contents stolen and the building put on fire to destroy the evidence. This splendid property is severely damaged, and you
will be surprised to know that no action has been taken by the custodians of the property to secure the building and initiate action against the offenders”.

22 23
 KHETRI HOUSE, JAIPUR KHETRI HOUSE, JAIPUR

Raja Sardar Singh, a frequent traveler who spent extended periods abroad, relied on his home in Jaipur
to safeguard his family’s precious possessions - jewelry, gold and silver utensils, silver furniture, and an
extensive collection of valuable artifacts. To fortify this treasure trove, two formidable strong rooms were
Letter Excerpt:
constructed, one on the ground floor and another on the first floor, the latter featuring a substantial
Tehsildar, Jaipur to Trust General Manager on 21st November 2022
5-ton heavy safe. Encased in 12-inch thick steel walls, the entrance cleverly concealed within the
Possession of Khetri House, outside Chandpol, Jaipur was taken over by the Government of Rajasthan from Khetri Trust on 29th September 1987 at which
time Khetri House was operating as a hotel. Movable assets inside the Khetri House buildings were recorded in three registers which were handed over to
building’s structure. However, in 2015, the entrance to both strong rooms fell victim to blow torches, the
Shri Nirbhay Singh, caretaker of the property appointed by the State. These registers cannot be located and therefore record of the movable assets in Khetri safe door forcibly opened, and the entire collection plundered.
House at the time of its appropriation by Government of Rajasthan are not available for your inspection.

24 25
 KHETRI HOUSE, JAIPUR

Amar Hall
Constructed for ceremonies in memory of the Testator’s father, Raja Amar Singh, Amar
Hall, along with all its furniture, furnishings, chandeliers, carpets, and artifacts, was
sealed by the Government of Rajasthan on September 31, 1987.
Locked away for 35 years, this solemn hall stands frozen in time, untouched and unseen.
Renowned for his love of
literature, Raja Sardar
Singh’s library at Khetri
House gained fame in Jaipur
for its vast collection of rare
books and manuscripts. This
literary haven also served
as the repository for family
records, preserving the extensive
correspondence between Swami
Vivekananda and Raja Ajit
Singh of Khetri Butter Paper Buildings photographed
in the year 2023

26
 Amar Hall, Khetri

The Durbar Hall of Khetri

The Durbar Hall, where official

gatherings and ceremonies were
once held in Amar Hall, served
as a vital part of Raja Ajit
Singh’s residence.
It was adorned with luxurious
furniture, exquisite artifacts,
intricate wall coverings, and
captivating paintings. However,
today it stands barren, stripped
of its former glory. Over the past
35 years, it has been plundered

Butter Paper and looted, echoing the profound

loss of its once-opulent treasures.

27
 Amar Hall, Khetri Amar Hall, Khetri

Testimony of Government Security

Amar Hall, situated in the heart of Khetri,

once served as the Durbar Hall for the Raja,
hosting crucial state and religious functions.

“Evidence of
Government
Security: The sad
remnants of security
lapses. Skeletons of
animals, unable to
navigate their way
out after entering
through windows
broken by burglars,
now lie lifeless on
the once-splendid
carpet of the
Durbar Hall.”

“It is inexplicable that the Rajasthan Government litigated for 36 years to prevent the
probate of a Will. There is no precedence where the law will allow the State to interfere
with the succession of property by its citizens”. sd. Lord Northbrook

28 29
 Amar Hall, Khetri Amar Hall, Khetri

“Rajasthan Government blatantly

ignored the last testament of a
very prominent citizen on the
disposal of his properties. It is
beyond justification when the State
acts with the avarice of Shylock.
The justification for a prolonged
litigation given by Bureaucrats
in the Government was that “the
Estate is too large and valuable for
the State to consider withdrawal of
its claims”

Letter Excerpt:
Managing Trustee to Collector Jaipur
on 11thSeptember 2008
There has also been extensive damage to
the properties resulting in collapse of entire
building walls due to complete neglect of
any maintenance in the past 20 years by
the Government since taking them under
receivership. We have also found that many
of these valuable heritage buildings have been
subject to destruction due to vandalism and
theft of important elements of the building
such as marble pillars and columns.
“Transcript of the opinion expressed by the Hon’ble Bench of the Supreme Court regarding the Officials of the
The movable assets, furniture and fixtures in
the buildings have been kept locked for the
Rajasthan Government during the hearing of 18.1.23 in the appeal file by the Government of Rajasthan:
past 20 years under your custody; we have “I don’t want to say what would have happened to these things, how your officers would have colluded to see
reason to believe that these assets have also the exit of the various aspects, what financial transactions must have passed in this purpose, it is obvious to
been stolen.
you when you see the condition, what must have happened, this did not happen gratis.”

30 31
 Amar Hall, Khetri
What is most troubling is the utter lack of accountability and responsibility exhibited by public servants. In a
startling revelation before the Supreme Court, the State admitted to having no records of the properties they
seized, no documentation of the movable assets within these properties, leading to an inability to assess the
stolen antiques and artifacts.
32
Amar Hall, Khetri
The illegal possession of the Khetri Estate by the Government of
Rajasthan in 1987 left the properties of the Late Raja Sardar
Singh in complete disarray. The willful negligence by the State
consequently led to chaos; the valuable movable assets inside the
properties were left unrecorded/unlisted, resulting in the rampant
looting of these artefacts, paintings, jewellery and even vintage cars.
33
 Amar Hall, Khetri Amar Hall, Khetri

DB Civil 2713/87 writ petition challenging

the Escheats proceedings by the Rajasthan
Government was adjudicated on 17.11.2016 in
favour of Khetri Trust by the Hon’ble Double
Bench of the Rajasthan High Court, that also
declared that the action of Escheats by the State
Government was not only illegal but also in
violation of the Indian Constitution and quashed
all the Escheat proceedings orders by the State.
The Hon’ble High Court of Rajasthan directed the
State that possession of all properties taken-over by
the Government of Rajasthan should be handed
over to Khetri Trust before 12th December 2016.

Shattered Legacies:
Photographs and
White-ant hills now dotting the once
paintings of a bygone
pristine flooring, a stark reminder of
era, left to decay
relentless advance upon the abandoned
amidst layers of
grandeur of yesteryears.
accumulated dust.

Glimpses of the original flooring

emerge from under the filth
accumulated over 35 years,
revealing the forgotten beauty
hidden beneath the neglect.

34 35
 Amar Hall, Khetri Amar Hall, Khetri

The photograph of Raja Sardar

Singh, captured when he ascended
to the throne of Khetri, offers a
glimpse into the vibrant spirit
and esteemed presence of the ruler.

Relentless Decay:
What wasn’t stolen
has decayed—
white ants, bird
droppings, and 35
years of neglect have
taken their toll on
Amidst neglected walls, these broken the surviving items.
photographs serves as a poignant
symbol of the fractured remnants of
an illustrious era.

36 37
 Amar Hall, Khetri Amar Hall, Khetri

The rot and the decay visible everywhere in the building. On the 1st Floor of the Amar Hall lies the record room of Khetri, where a treasure trove of historical
“The hall, adorned with Belgian glass chandeliers and Persian carpets, once radiated opulence, with the royal documents is stored. Regrettably, three truckloads of these invaluable records, including historical
insignia of the Khetri principality intricately embossed in gold. Vintage armor and an antique collection of documents and revenue records of Khetri, have been discarded, rendered irredeemable, and lost to posterity.
firearms adorned the walls, creating a regal ambiance that echoed the rich history of the principality.” These documents serve as vital pieces of history, shedding light on the rich heritage and past of the region.

38 39
 Amar Hall, Khetri

Amar Hall holds a significant place in history, as it served as the residence of Raja Ajit Singh during the visit
of Swami Vivekananda. This space, integral to Ajit Singh’s dwelling, bears witness to the esteemed presence of
both the spiritual leader and the noble ruler.

Sukh Mahal
Sukh Mahal: The residence of the Testator,
Raja Sardar Singh Khetri, at Khetri.
This property, along with all its furniture and furnishings, was
sealed by the Government of Rajasthan on September 31, 1987,
and has since remained locked for 35 years.

Butter Paper Buildings photographed

in the year 2023

40
 Sukh Mahal

Sukh Mahal: The personal residence of Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh stands as a testament to
his esteemed presence in Khetri. This abode, deeply intertwined with the life and legacy of Raja
Bahadur Sardar Singh, serves as a cherished symbol of his enduring influence and leadership in
the region.

Butter Paper Sealed on September 31, 1987, and reopened on January 6, 2023, by the Government
of Rajasthan.

41
 Sukh Mahal Sukh Mahal

The photograph of Raja Bahadur

The walls, furniture, and artifacts within the
Sardar Singh, once cherished tokens
room bear the scars of years of neglect, adorned
of his esteemed presence, now lie
with layers of dust and bird droppings.
forgotten in dust, ravaged by years
of neglect.
A heartbreaking reflection of how
time and disregard have robbed us
of our heritage.

This pervasive decay is a haunting reminder of the passage of time and the tragic
consequences of neglect, which have robbed the space of its former beauty and grandeur.

42 43
 Sukh Mahal Sukh Mahal

The photograph of Lady

Manning, a cherished
confidante of the Raja who
spent many months at Sukh
Mahal, now lies forgotten
in dust. She holds great
significance not only as a close
friend but also as the first board
of trustee and grandmother of
Lord Northbrook, the executor
of the Will. Her presence
symbolizes the deep connections
and history embedded within
the walls of Sukh Mahal.

Adorning the walls with the

dignified presence of Raja Ajit
Singh and illustrious figures, the
paintings and photographs have
now vanished, stolen from their
rightful place. What remains are
broken frames strewn across the
floor, poignant remnants of a bygone
era, now lost to time and neglect.

44 45
 Sukh Mahal Sukh Mahal

The interiors of the room, once

grand and majestic, now plagued
by white ants and bird droppings,
reflect 35 years of neglect, painting a
sorrowful picture of the toll exacted
by time and abandonment.

A solitary chair leans against a wall of hollow wood, ravaged by white ants, on the brink of disintegration.

46 47
 Sukh Mahal Sukh Mahal

The interiors of the

building, plagued by
white ants and bird
droppings, reflect
years of neglect and
decay, showcasing the
devastating consequences
of both time and the
state government’s
failure to fulfill its
duty in preserving our
cultural heritage.

48 49
 Sukh Mahal Sukh Mahal

Tables, floors, furniture,

and walls, all marred by the
accumulated bird droppings
over the years, stand as a grim
testament to the prolonged
neglect of the property.

This showcases the

heartbreaking decay of Sukh
Mahal’s former grandeur.

50 51
 Sukh Mahal Sukh Mahal

The beds, sofas, and carpets

in the rooms of the Raja,
once symbols of comfort and
luxury, now lay destroyed
by dust and carelessness.
The rooms now bear
the scars of neglect and
disregard for their historical
significance.

Furniture ravaged by white ants, shattered, and stolen by burglars, leaving behind a scene of desolation and loss.

52 53
 Sukh Mahal Sukh Mahal

The bedroom of the Raja

in Sukh Mahal lies in
dust, ruined and forgotten.

A poignant symbol
of the neglect that
has befallen this once
majestic residence.

Artefacts ruthlessly plundered and shattered, with empty wooden stands bearing the ghostly remnants of once-
displayed silver trophies.

54 55
 Sukh Mahal Sukh Mahal

56 57
 Sukh Mahal Sukh Mahal

Every compartment and Steel safe forcibly

storage space laid bare, pulled out from the
opened and emptied, a wall and left wide
silent testimony to the open, symbolizing the
thorough looting and violation of security
desolation. and loss within. Bird
droppings pile like
ant hills in the floor
What couldn’t
and cover the entire
be opened was
building as a evidence
subjected to neglect
of criminal negligence
and destruction,
by the custodians of
further adding to
the State.
the devastation
inflicted upon this
place.

58 59
 Sukh Mahal Sukh Mahal

“Letter Excerpt:
Trust General Manager
to Collector Jaipur on 1st
January 2010
Further to our letters dated 06th
September 2008, 04th February
2009, 16th February 2009, 17th
June 2009, 9th September 2009
and 7th December 2009 drawing
your attention to the properties in
your custody under the Escheat
Act, of the Late Raja Bahadur
Sardar Singhji of Khetri including
Khetri House, Chandpol Road,
Jaipur have been “sold” to the land
Mafia in Delhi and Mumbai by a
group that claims to be Agnates of
the late Raja. Among the person
involved in the illegal sale of these
properties is your custodian of
Khetri House, Jaipur, Mr. Nirbhay
Singh against whom FIR no170/08
and 227/08 has been filed in Jaipur
police station at Bani Park. He has
been imprisoned in the Central
Jail since 30th April 2009 and has
recently been released on bail.
With the full cooperation of the
functionaries in the Collectorate,
he looted the property, permitted
illegal possession, and removed all
the expensive possessions inside
In the relentless pursuit of jewelry and other treasures, the place was destroyed, leaving behind a landscape of
the property including paintings,
devastation and loss, a grim testament to the lengths taken in the pursuit of greed. carpets, furniture and artifacts.”

60 61
 Sukh Mahal

Naya Mahal
Situated within the Bhopalgarh Fort, Naya Mahal, built by Raja Ajit Singh
Khetri in 1895, once offered a commanding view of Khetri town.
However, since its takeover by the Government of Rajasthan on
September 31, 1987, this magnificent palace has endured 35 years of
vandalism, robbery, and destruction.

In 1947, the princely States of Jodhpur & Marwar region; Jaipur & Dhundar - Shekhawati regions, Udaipur
& Mewar Region, Kota & Hadoti region, and Bikaner, collectively governed over 7,000 Jagirs (nobles). These
Jagirdars (nobility) possessed lands in 17,000 villages, spanning an extensive 80,000 sq. miles. The integration
of these princely States was finalized through the execution of individual covenants with the Union of India.
Simultaneously, the nobility of these States faced abolition following the enactment of the Rajasthan Land
Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act 1952. The Khetri Jagir, situated in the Shekhawati region under the
Maharaja of Jaipur, saw its conclusion in 1956. The Jagir of Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh was resumed, with
compensation amounting to seven times the annual revenue of the Jagir. Butter Paper Buildings photographed
in the year 2023

62
 NAYA MAHAL

The grand and magnificent Naya Mahal now stands alone, a haunting symbol of destruction and desolation.
Its barren and ruined state serves as a stark reminder of the loss of its former grandeur and splendor.

Butter Paper
63
 NAYA MAHAL NAYA MAHAL

The Hon’ble Supreme Court observed in order 8.1.2023: “We are shocked and amazed at the manner in
which the State of Rajasthan has permitted its heritage to be destroyed and continues to permit it to be
destroyed while claiming its rights under the Rajasthan Escheats Regulation Act, 1956!”

64 65
 NAYA MAHAL NAYA MAHAL

Neglected by the Government, the deterioration of these priceless Shekhawati wall fresco paintings that
The exquisite Shekhawati wall fresco paintings that adorned the walls of the Naya Mahal
adorned the walls of the Naya Mahal serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for preservation and
now lie damaged, tragically diminishing the regal ambiance of the palace. Once vibrant
restoration efforts.
symbols of artistic excellence and cultural heritage, these paintings now bear the scars of
neglect, robbing the Mahal of its former majesty and grandeur.

66 67
 NAYA MAHAL NAYA MAHAL

Priceless Shekhawati wall

frescoes and other hand
sculptures and paintings
now lie destroyed, robbed of
their cultural and historical
significance, a tragic loss to
the heritage of Naya Mahal. The once-beautiful and
intricately adorned roof
Letter Excerpt: and walls, embellished
Managing Trustee to Collector with exquisite mirror
Jaipur
on 11th September 2008 work, now lie in ruins.
There has also been extensive damage
Their stunning beauty,
to the properties resulting in the once a testament to
collapse of entire building walls due to skilled craftsmanship
the government’s complete neglect of
any maintenance in the past 20 years
and cultural heritage,
since taking them under receivership. has been tragically
We have also found that many of these diminished by neglect
valuable heritage buildings have been
subject to destruction due to vandalism
and decay.
and theft of important elements of the
building such as marble pillars and
columns.
The movable assets, furniture and
fixtures in the buildings have been
locked under your custody for the past
20 years; we have reason to believe that
these assets have also been stolen.

68 69
 NAYA MAHAL NAYA MAHAL

These exquisite paintings and glasswork, once the pride of the structure, have been left to deteriorate, casting a The once-majestic walls of the Mahal have been desecrated by vandalism, with people scribbling on them,
somber shadow over the grandeur that once graced the Naya Mahal. defacing their historic beauty. This act of destruction has marred the grandeur of the palace, tarnishing its
legacy and diminishing its cultural significance.

70 71
 NAYA MAHAL NAYA MAHAL

The Naya Mahal hall, now lacking its roof, stands exposed to the elements, leading to the accumulation of
dust and accelerating its decay. Once a place of grandeur and elegance, this hall now bears witness to the
ravages of time and neglect.

72 73
 NAYA MAHAL NAYA MAHAL

The walls of the Mahal, once adorned with grace, now

bear the scars of vandalism in the form of scribbles on the
walls and black spots from cooking within its premises.
This degradation by dampness over the years not only diminishes the
beauty of the Mahal but also poses a risk to its structural integrity,
highlighting the urgent need for restoration and preservation efforts
to safeguard this architectural treasure for future generations

74 75
 NAYA MAHAL

Bhopalgarh Fort
Bhopalgarh Fort, seized by the Government of Rajasthan on September 31, 1987,
stands as a historic testament to Raja Bhopal Singh’s vision, erected in 1765.
The expansive fort spans over 60 acres, enclosed by a fortified wall adorned with
imposing ramparts.
Within its walls, two illustrious royal palaces, ‘Naya Mahal’ and ‘Moti Mahal,’
once graced the Shekhawati region, standing as jewels of architectural brilliance.

Butter Paper Buildings photographed

in the year 2023

76
 BHOPALGARH FORT

Inheriting the Jagir of Khetri, District Jhunjhunu, and Kotputli, Raja Sardar Singh succeeded his father,
Raja Amar Singh, following his demise on May 6th, 1927.

"A poignant tale of neglect unfolds as the Government of Rajasthan, entrusted with safeguarding invaluable
properties, not only allowed their looting but also resorted to their intentional destruction. Over the past 36
years, following the illegal seizure, the government’s negligence has left these properties vulnerable. Shockingly,
before the Supreme Court, the government admitted the absence of the priceless artifacts, paintings, artworks,
and precious jewelry from the affluent Khetri Estate that once graced these properties. Additionally, the records
of the assets taken into custody are now mysteriously unavailable.
In this calamity, two victims emerge: the Testator of the WILL, Raja Sardar Singh Khetri, a distinguished

Butter Paper member of the constituent assembly and India’s ambassador to Laos; and the second victim, the children of
India, to whom he had bequeathed his entire wealth. Signed, HH Maharaja Gajsingh JODHPUR."

77
 BHOPALGARH FORT BHOPALGARH FORT

The Bhopal Garh

Moti Mahal Naya Mahal

“By 1947, two decades later, the Maharaja of Jodhpur, Jaipur, Udaipur, Bikaner, and Kota governed over
7,000 Jagirs (nobles). These Jagirdars (nobility) possessed lands in 17,000 villages, spanning an expansive
80,000 square miles. The amalgamation of princely States was finalized through individual covenants
between the Sovereign States and the Union of India. In the interim, the Jagirs (nobility) of these States were
abolished in 1952.”
“Under the ‘Rajasthan Land Reforms and Resumption of Jagirs Act 1952,’ the Jagir Commissioner,
on December 2, 1957, declared 191 properties as the private assets of Late Raja Sardar Singh,
situated in the Districts of Jhunjhunu and Jaipur in Rajasthan.”

78 79
 BHOPALGARH FORT BHOPALGARH FORT

Letter Excerpt:
Trust Secretary to Collector Jaipur
on 5th February 2009
We informed you of the extensive deterioration
of the properties of the Late Raja, Bahadur Sardar
Singh ji of Khetri that are under your custody.
Since the takeover of these properties by your
office, there have been numerous encroachments
in collusion with your officers and absolutely
no supervision by your office to safeguard their
boundaries resulting in total neglect.
It is ironic that the Trust has written several
letters to your office for many years now but
woefully little has been done to safeguard the
properties which are a national heritage.

80 81
 BHOPALGARH FORT BHOPALGARH FORT

82 83
 BHOPALGARH FORT

Letter Excerpt:
Managing Trustee to Collector Jaipur n 22nd October 2022
We also draw your attention to our numerous letters written to your
office for the past 35 years relating to the neglect and destruction of the
Escheated properties.
The issues raised by us in these letters to which there was neither any
action nor response from the respective Collectors, now have special
relevance in view of the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court are:
1. In the last 35 years the escheated properties have been without any
kind of security and in total disrepair and abandonment.
2. All movable assets have been stolen from inside the locked buildings
through broken doors and windows, we requested that the buildings
are opened for inspection, but the Collector ignored all complaints

Moti Mahal
and took no action.
3. We drew attention of the Collector to newspaper reports and our
letters to secure the escheats properties that have been subject to
theft and plunder. No action taken.
4. Innumerable encroachments and illegal possession of the property
lands for which we requested the Collector to remove them and Nestled within the Bhopalgarh Fort, Moti Mahal once commanded the valley
strengthen the boundaries. Nothing was done. below, a testament to the architectural vision of Raja Bhopal Singh in 1765,
5. People posing to be agnates, such as Surender Singh, Raghubir further adorned by Raja Fateh Singh’s renovations in 1861. However, since its
Singh, Nirbhay Singh had executed “Agreements” to sell these takeover by the Government of Rajasthan on September 31, 1987, this majestic
escheats properties to the Delhi and Mumbai land mafia. We
palace has suffered 35 years of neglect.
provided the Collector copies of the sale deeds, and after the
Collector took no action, we filed FIR number 170/08 and 227/08 Lacking security, maintenance, or protection, the once-grand structures of Moti
against them. The miscreants were arrested, and the cases are still Mahal now stand in ruins, a poignant reflection of faded grandeur.
sub-judice.
6. At the end on 20th August 2015, I informed the Collector, Jaipur
that we have received no response to any of our past correspondence
to the Collector, Jaipur on the vandalism, encroachment,
misappropriation of immovable assets and theft of the escheated
movable assets, nor any action has been taken for the past 20 years
for the preservation and protection of these heritage buildings. Still
no response was made by the Collector, Jaipur
7. Finally, in the same letter I informed the Collector that the Khetri

Butter Paper
House, Jaipur has been severely vandalized, after looting the property
of all its movable assets and valuables it has been put on fire. Yet, no Buildings photographed
action was taken by the Collector, Jaipur to identify the thieves nor in the year 2023
provide even minimal security to these escheated properties.

84
 MOTI MAHAL

In a cruel twist of fate, the hasty seizure of Khetri Trust’s properties disregarded the very essence of justice
embedded in the Rajasthan Escheats Act.
No regard was shown for the rightful heirs as records vanished into thin air, failing to document the precious
assets once under the stewardship of Late Raja Sardar Singh. The chaos that ensued left the estate in ruins, a
poignant reminder of the systematic neglect and betrayal suffered.

Butter Paper
85
 MOTI MAHAL MOTI MAHAL

The Hon’ble Supreme Court observed in order dated 18.1.23:

We have also made it clear to learned senior counsel for the State that prima facie this five crore amount may not be enough, by any stretch of imagination,
to carry out the renovation and they will have to make necessary funds available, having been party to watching as it got destroyed.

What was once a symbol of opulence and architectural splendor now lies in ruins, a poignant reflection of
the passage of time and the relentless forces of decay. The deliberate and illegal acts perpetrated by the state
government to loot the treasures have further exacerbated this decline, leaving behind a legacy of destruction
and loss. Without security and maintenance, these beautiful properties became vulnerable to vandalism and neglect.

86 87
 MOTI MAHAL MOTI MAHAL

In the Mahal, the once-grand ceiling materials have crumbled, and the majestic pillars, along with other
architectural marvels, have been reduced to dust.

88 89
 MOTI MAHAL MOTI MAHAL

Destroyed by neglect and other forms

The Hon’ble Supreme Court in order of 22.9.22 observed: of deterioration, the state of Moti
We call upon the State to furnish an affidavit as to whether there is any security deployed at the site and if not deployed for what period, if any, they Mahal has deteriorated significantly,
were ever deployed. The State undoubtedly has great responsibility to protect the heritage more so when it has exercised the right to escheat. reaching a dire condition.

90 91
 MOTI MAHAL MOTI MAHAL

The intricate circular brick designs, known

as kharanja, adorning the roof, have been
tragically destroyed due to neglect. Once
a symbol of architectural beauty, their
demise serves as a poignant reminder of the
consequences of neglecting our cultural heritage.

92 93
 MOTI MAHAL

The corridors and verandas of the

majestic Moti Mahal now lie in
destruction, intertwined with wild
plants, a stark testament to the
ravages of time and neglect.
In the Mahal, the once-grand ceiling
has crumbled, and the majestic
pillars, along with other architectural
marvels, have been reduced to dust.
What was once a symbol of opulence

Jai Niwas Kothi

and architectural splendor now lies
in ruins, a poignant reflection of the
utter neglect and disregard by the
successive Governments in Rajasthan
Once the esteemed residence of the Testator’s grandfather,
from 1987 to 2024
Raja Jai Singh Khetri.
“Letter Excerpt: Seized by the Government of Rajasthan on
Managing Trustee to Collector Jaipur on September 31, 1987, along with all its furnishings, this
11th September 2008 property has remained locked for 35 years, a silent witness
There has also been extensive damage to the
to the theft of Khetri’s legacy.
properties resulting in the collapse of entire building
walls due to the government’s complete neglect of
any maintenance in the past 20 years since taking
them under receivership. We have also found that
many of these valuable heritage buildings have been
subject to destruction due to vandalism and theft of
important elements of the building such as marble
pillars and columns. The movable assets, furniture
and fixtures in the buildings have been locked under
your custody for the past 20 years; we have reason to

Butter Paper
believe that these assets have also been stolen.”
Buildings photographed
in the year 2023

94
 Jai Niwas Kothi

Butter Paper
Jai Niwas Kothi, once the esteemed residence of the Testator’s grandfather, Raja Jai Singh Khetri, now stands
in ruin, a poignant reflection of its former glory lost to the ravages of time and neglect."

95
 Jai Niwas Kothi Jai Niwas Kothi

The once-beautiful
walls and entire
architectural marvel
of Jai Niwas Kothi
now lie in ruins, their
splendor faded and
their grandeur lost to
the relentless march of
time and neglect.

96 97
 Jai Niwas Kothi Jai Niwas Kothi

98 99
 Jai Niwas Kothi Jai Niwas Kothi

The erstwhile beautiful walls, furniture, and windows adorned with intricate designs now stand ruined, The broken reflections of shattered mirrors and gates, obscured by piles of dust, stand as haunting remnants
buried under piles of dust and entangled in spider webs, which collectively mar the entire décor of the Kothi. of neglect within the premises and serves as poignant reminders of the passage of time and the toll it takes on
once-grand structures.

100 101
 Jai Niwas Kothi Jai Niwas Kothi

The beautiful
All the valuables entrance gate and
have been looted, windows of the Jai
leaving the Niwas Kothi now
cupboard left ajar. stand shattered
The magnificent and ruined, their
rooms of the Palace elegance and charm
are now piled with lost to the ravages
broken furniture left of time and neglect.
behind by thieves a These iconic
solemn reminder of features are now in
the waste inflicted disrepair, serving
on the bequeath to as a stark reminder
the young children of the fading glory
of this country. of this historic
residence.

102 103
 Jai Niwas Kothi

Purohit ji ki Haveli
Once a symbol of grandeur and magnificence, this property was locked away by
the Government of Rajasthan in 1987, never to be opened again.
Over 35 years, burglars infiltrated its splendor, while the windows, once witnesses
to opulence, decayed and decomposed. Now, what was once so great stands as a
mere shell, with the Trust resorting to closing the windows with bricks to salvage
the remnants of its former glory.

Butter Paper Buildings photographed

in the year 2023

104
 Purohit Ji ki Haveli, Khetri

Butter Paper
105
 Purohit Ji ki Haveli, Khetri Purohit Ji ki Haveli, Khetri

Devastated by
fire, the walls
of Moti Mahal
have suffered
a monumental
loss and now
teeter on
the brink of
collapse.

The grand
verandas are
now crowded
by wild
plants, adding
to the scene
of desolation Thirty-five years of complete neglect have transformed these once-great properties into ruins under the
and decay. indifferent custody of the Government of Rajasthan. The very essence of grandeur has crumbled, giving way to
rampant encroachments that now shroud the magnificence of Purhoitji-ki-Haveli. The heartbreaking reality
is that what was once so splendid has now been reduced to nothing but a fading memory, lost in the shadows
of time.

106 107
 Purohit Ji ki Haveli, Khetri Purohit Ji ki Haveli, Khetri

The beautiful open hall, once the sacred site of many rituals during the Raja’s time, now stands engulfed by
wild plants due to the neglect by the state.

108 109
 Purohit Ji ki Haveli, Khetri Purohit Ji ki Haveli, Khetri

"Letter Excerpt:
Trust Secretary to Collector Jaipur on 5th February 2009
We informed you of the extensive deterioration of the properties of the Late Raja, Bahadur Sardar Singh ji of Khetri that are under your custody.
Since the takeover of these properties by your office, there have been numerous encroachments in collusion with your officers and absolutely
no supervision by your office to safeguard their boundaries resulting in total neglect.
It is ironic that the Trust has written several letters to your office for many years now but woefully little has been done to safeguard the properties which are
a national heritage."

110 111
 Purohit Ji ki Haveli, Khetri

Chronology of Agreements executed

for the Sale & Resale of the
Estate of Raja Sardar Singh
Fueled by the State of Rajasthan’s escheats action and the absence of clear ownership, the Agnates
boldly united under the leadership of Surender Singh Alsisar. Executing nineteen Sale Deeds, MOUs,
Joint Venture Agreements, and Power of Attorney for the same properties, they operated without
restraint. In response, Khetri Trust filed FIRs against the Agnates for embezzling the Testator’s
properties. The charges were pursued by the police, resulting in the incarceration of many involved in
the illicit activities.

Butter Paper
112
 Estate of Raja Sardar Singh

Four branches (Thikana/Jagirs) of Agnates, comprising over 200 members, share a lineage
tracing back to Raja Bahadur Sardar Singh of Khetri through a common ancestor, Kishan
Singh, who lived 250 years ago from 1709 to 1745. These Agnate families, bound by blood
ties, organized themselves into a syndicate. Through the execution of Family Settlement Deeds,
Consent Deeds, and other legal documents, they established agreements on the method and

Butter Paper division of proceeds from the sale of the Khetri Estate among themselves.

113
 Estate of Raja Sardar Singh Estate of Raja Sardar Singh

Chronology of The Sale and Resale of The Estate of Raja Sardar Singh Khetri
by Fradulent Agnates
Sr. Date of Nature of
Parties executing the documents Summary of the document
No. document document
First party Second party

1. Surender Singh Alsisar 1. Sale of Testator Properties in Delhi on

2. Nagender Singh Alsisar
3. Hamender Singh Alsisar
(both represented by their
Memorandum of
1 15.7.2002 mother Shobha Kunwar)
Understanding
4. Laxman Singh Aruka
5. Raghubir Singh Aruka
And 15 others posing as
Agnates of the Testator.
Sardar Patel Road for INR 8,00,00,000/-
J.B. Chowdhry, 4/1/C, (Rupees Eght Crores only), advance Rs.
Racquet Court Road, Civil 40,00,000 (Forty Lacs) PAID, Balance on
Lines, Delhi and possession of property
R. C. Aggarwal, B-35, 2. Probate case in Delhi and other litigations
South Extension-I, New in Jaipur relating to the properties of the
Delhi Testator will be financed by J.B.Chowdhry and
R.C.Agarwal and will substitute the lawyers at
their own cost.

1. Surender Singh Alsisar

2. Nagender Singh Alsisar
3. Hamender Singh Alsisar
(both represented by their
Memorandum of
2 15.7.2002 mother Shobha Kunwar)
Understanding
4. Laxman Singh Aruka
5. Raghubir Singh Aruka
And 15 others posing as
Agnates of the Testator.
First Party authorised the second party to sell
J.B. Chowdhry, 4/1/C, the Estate of Raja Sardar Singh and divide the
Racquet Court Road, Civil proceeds in a ratio of 45% for the First Party
Lines, Delhi and and 55% for the Second Party.
R. C. Aggarwal, B-35, Meanwhile expenses for the litigation filed for
South Extension-I, New Probate in Delhi will be paid by the Secound
Delhi Party and lawyers will also be employed by
them.

1. Surender Singh Alsisar

2. Nagender Singh Alsisar
3. Hamender Singh Alsisar
(both represented by their
Deed of Family
3 15.7.2002 mother Shobha Kunwar)
Settlement
4. Laxman Singh Aruka
5. Raghubir Singh Aruka
And 15 others posing as
Agnates of the Testator.
This Deed was executed
between the First party to
Members of four families namely Aruka,
record the division of the
Hirwa, Badangarh and Alsisar agree to share
proceeds from the Sale of
1/4 each in the Estate of theTestator.
the Estate of the Testator
And incase of any dispute pertaining to the
by J.B.Chowdhry and
settlement deed,it shall be referred to J.B.
R.C.Agarwal with whom
Chowdhry and R. C. Aggarwal.
MOU was signed on the
same date.

The Agnates, in a blatant act of betrayal, began selling the escheated properties at a meager 5% of their actual
value. Land brokers from Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur facilitated these transactions by paying substantial
sums of money to the Agnates. In a deceptive move, these unscrupulous land brokers, acting as proxies for the
Agnates, infiltrated probate litigation. They further cemented their influence by appointing their own lawyers
through Memorandums of Understanding, Powers of Attorney, and various legal documents executed in
collusion with the Agnates.
114 115
 Estate of Raja Sardar Singh
Sr. Date of Nature of
Parties executing the documents
No. document document
First party
1. Surender Singh Alsisar
2. Nagender Singh Alsisar
3. Hamender Singh Alsisar
(both represented by their
4 15.7.2002 Power of attorney mother Shobha Kunwar)
4. Laxman Singh Aruka
5. Raghubir Singh Aruka
And 15 others posing as
Agnates of the Testator.
1. Raghuvir Singh Aruka
General Power of 2. Smt Krishna Kanwar,
5 30.4.2004
Attorney Badangarh
3. Vijaypal Singh Badangarh
Six Persons posing as Agnates
of the Testator:
1. Smt Nand Kanwar
Dev Krishna Tiwari
Jhunjhunu
Plot no. 51, flat no. 1
General Power of 2. Mahaveer Singh Jhunjhunu Share Punjab Society,
6 7.5.2004
Attorney
3. Sunder Singh Jhunjhunu Mahakali Kesh Road,
4. Navratan Singh Jhunjhunu Andheri East Mumbai-93
5. Durga Singh Jhunjhunu
6. Dalpat Singh Jhunjhunu
Two Persons posing as Agnates Dev Krishna Tiwari S/o JP
of the Testator:
General Power of
7 13.8.2004
Attorney 1. Dilip Singh Navalgarh
2. Chattar Singh Balariya
116
Estate of Raja Sardar Singh
Sr. Date of Nature of
Summary of the document Parties executing the documents Summary of the document
No. document document
Second party First party Second party
First party appointed Secound Party their 1. Surendra Singh Alsisar Joint Venture Agreement for Sale of the
Power of Attorney holders relating to Estate of Testator and division of the proceeds
2. Nagendra Singh Alsisar
J.B. Chowdhry, 4/1/C, the Estate of the Testator, empowered to 1. Kamlendra Singh Kurki 60% for persons posing as Agnates in the First
Racquet Court Road, Civil sell, rent, lease and enter into any kind of Joint Venture 3. Hemedra Singh Alsisar Party and 40% to the Property developers in
8 23.3.2006 2. Anand Singh Jodi Secound Party.
Lines, Delhi and agreement relating to the same. The second Agreement 4. Raghuvir Singh Aruka and
3. Jitendra Singh
R. C. Aggarwal, B-35, party was also authorised to represent the an additional 29 persons Meanwhile all litigation expenses in Probate
South Extension-I, New first party in legal cases, appoint lawyers, posing as agnates of the case to be borne by Second Party on behalf
Delhi file suits, liase with relevant government Testator on First Party.
authorities and undertake any action required
for supervision of the Estate of the Testator. Joint Venture Agreement for Sale of the
1. Surendra Singh Alsisar Estate of Testator and division of the proceeds
Records Payment of Rs. 83,000/- and Rs. 60% for persons posing as Agnates in the First
2. Nagendra Singh Alsisar
Dev Krishna Tiwari 1,25,000 to each of the others, Krishna
1. Kamlendra Singh Kurki Party and 40% to the Property developers in
Plot no. 51, flat no. 1 Kunwar and Vijapal Singh by Second Party, Joint Venture 3. Hemedra Singh Alsisar Secound Party.
9 13.4.2006 2. Anand Singh Jodi
Share Punjab Society, Dev Krishnan Tiwari. Agreement 4. Raghuvir Singh Aruka and Meanwhile all litigation expenses in Probate
Mahakali Kesh Road, In exchange of a Power of Attorney in favour an additional 29 persons 3. Jitendra Singh case to be borne by Second Party on behalf
Andheri East Mumbai-93 of Dev Krishnan Tiwari to sell the property of posing as agnates of the on First Party. The distribution of 60% share
Testator at 5, Sardar Patel, Road, New Delhi. Testator among the first party and 40% among the
second party is recorded.
Records Payment of money by Dev Krishnan
Surender Singh Alsisar and
Tiwari, Second Party, to all six persons in the
other posing to be Agnates As an Addendum to the Joint Venture
First Party posing as Agnates of the Testator
of Raja Sardar Singh execute Agreement signed on the same date, the
in exchange of their Power of Attorney to Dev
10 13.4.2006 Affidavit an Affadavit to record their first party affirms the amount and mode of
Krishnan Tiwari for sale the property of the
consensus of the respective distribution of their share in the Estate of the
Testator at 5, Sardar Patel Road, Delhi
shares in the Estate of the Testator Raja Sardar Singh.
In exchange of a Power of Attorney in favour
Testator.
of Dev Krishnan Tiwari to sell the property of
Testator at 5, Sardar Patel, Road, New Delhi. Surender Singh Alsisar, First Party posing to be Agnates divide the
Consent
Raghuveer Singh Aruka Agreement between the properties of Late Raja Sardar Singh and agree
11 21.3.2007 Deed without
and five others posing to be First party. joint management, ownership and sale of the
Records Payment of money by Dev Krishnan consideration
Agnates of the Testator. Estate.
Tiwari, Second Party, to both persons in the
First Party posing as Agnates of the Testator Jitendra Singh Son of
Tiwari plot no. 51, flat no. in exchange of their Power of Attorney to Dev Nirbhay Singh - Caretaker
1 Share Punjab Society, Krishnan Tiwari for sale the property of the 1. Surender Singh Alsisar of Khetri House, Jaipur 1. The first party declared themselves as the
Mahakali Kesh Road, Testator at 5, Sardar Patel Road, Delhi appointed by Government rightful owners successors of the Testator.
2. Raghuvir Singh Aruka and
Andheri East Mumbai-93 In exchange of a Power of Attorney in favour 12 22.3.2007 Declaration of Rajasthan in 1987 to
five other persons posing 2. Agree to give 2% of the proceeds of
of Dev Krishnan Tiwari to sell the property of receive 2% of the total
to be Agnates of the the Estate to Jitender Singh for services
Testator at 5, Sardar Patel, Road, New Delhi. proceeds from the sale
Testator rendered.
of the Estate of the Raja
after disposal of all cases
117
 Estate of Raja Sardar Singh Estate of Raja Sardar Singh

Sr. Date of Nature of

Parties executing the documents Summary of the document
No. document document
First party Second party

Jitendra Singh Son of

Nirbhay Singh - Caretaker 3. The collusion of the state appointed
1. Surender Singh Alsisar of Khetri House, Jaipur caretaker Nirbay Singh with Surender
2. Raghuvir Singh Aruka and appointed by Government Singh Alsisar, Raghubir Singh (both
12 22.3.2007 Declaration five other persons posing of Rajasthan in 1987 to objectors in the probate case), is obvious
to be Agnates of the receive 2% of the total by this agreement to make payment to
Testator proceeds from the sale Jitender Singh, son of Nirbhay Singh for
of the Estate of the Raja his services.
after disposal of all cases

Lala Devi Dayal Bhu Seva

Trust, On basis of MOU dated 15.7.2002 with
229-30, Ram Nagar, Tehsil people posing as Agnates of the Testator,
J.B. Chowdhry. town Panipat. J.B. Chowdhry sells his rights in the Estate
13 19.9.2008 Agreement to Sell 4/1/C, Racquet Court Road, of the Testator (Except 5 Sardar Patel Marg.
Civil Lines, Delhi Through its Managing New Delhi) within the framework of the MOU
Trustee Shanti Swaroop 15.7.2002 to Lala Devi Dayal Bhu Sewa Trust,
Sachdeva, 229-30, Ram Panipat for Rs. 75 Lacs.
Nagar, Tehsil town Panipat

Lala Devi Dayal Bhu Seva

Trust,
On basis of MOU dated 15.7.2002 with
229-30, Ram Nagar, Tehsil
people posing as Agnates of the Testator,
J.B. Chowdhry. town Panipat.
J.B.Chowdhry sells his rights in 5 Sardar Patel After the Government of Rajasthan
14 19.9.2008 Agreement to Sell 4/1/C, Racquet Court Road, Through its Managing
Marg. New Delhi, within the framework of the assumed control of the property in
Civil Lines, Delhi Trustee Shanti Swaroop
MOU 15.7.2002 to Lala Devi Dayal Bhu Sewa 1987, years of complete indifference
Sachdeva,
Trust, Panipat for Rs. 75 Lacs. followed, allowing the escheated assets
229-30, Ram Nagar, Tehsil
town Panipat to become targets of unrestrained loot
and plunder. The state’s negligence and
Records Payment of money by RAPID
apathy were glaringly evident, especially
RAPID Solutions and Management Solutions to the First Party
Managements, posing as Agnates of the Testator for sale the
in the case of Khetri House, Jaipur, and
Raghubir Singh Objector in represented by Mr. entire Estate of the Testator at Delhi, Jaipur, the palaces at Khetri
Memorandum of the Probate case along with Tarique Shaukat Khetri and all other movable and immovable Miscreants, including Surender Singh
15 3.1.2009
Understanding 18 other persons posing to be Chunawala, assets owned by the Testator at time of his Alsisar, Shobha Kunwar, Nagender
Agnates of the Testator. 65 Dadi Bari Market, death. Singh Alsisar, and Hernander Singh
Next to Alka Cinema, Sikar In exchange of a Power of Attorney in favour
Alsisar, deceitfully posed as agnates.
Road, Jaipur of Dev Krishnan Tiwari to sell the property of
Testator at 5, Sardar Patel, Road, New Delhi.
They entered into Memorandums of
Understanding with J.B. Chaudhary
The Trust gathered fifteen Sale Deeds, MOUs, Joint Venture Agreements, and Power of Attorney and R.C. Agarwal, property brokers
documents executed by the Agnates in favor of different individuals for the same properties. Filing FIRs from Delhi, for the sale of these
properties and received an advance
against the Agnates and the Land Mafia, Khetri Trust sought justice for the embezzlement of Khetri payment of Rs. 40 lacs.
properties. These legal proceedings are currently pending in the Jaipur District Courts, awaiting resolution.
118 119
 Estate of Raja Sardar Singh

120
February 2024
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