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Differences over claim to Phoolan Devi's property came to the fore on Wednesday with her husband Umed Singh announcing the formation of a trust and her sister opposing the handing over of the estate to him.
Amidst high drama at a press conference, Umed Singh said, "To resolve the property dispute, the family has decided to form a trust that will work for the upliftment of suppressed people."
"There is no (no) rift in the family over the (property) issue," Singh said.
Ahead of the press conference, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav visited Phoolan Devi's family to 'express solidarity with the bereaved'.
However, he was immediately challenged by Phoolan Devi's sister Munni Devi who alleged that Umed Singh knew the alleged conspirators (Sher Singh Rana and Uma Kashyap) 'very well' and had married her sister (Phoolan Devi) with 'an eye' on the property.
"He (Singh) has another wife and two daughters in Timarpur (West Delhi). He married my sister (Phoolan Devi) for her property," Munni Devi alleged.
Umed Singh and Munni Devi traded charges throughout the press conference. Countering the allegations of Munni Devi, Umed Singh alleged, "she wants the property. That is why she does not want the trust to be formed."
Refuting the charge, Munni Devi said, "Give the money to anyone but him (Umed Singh)."
"Munni Devi indicated that she suspected Singh's hand in the 'murder of her sister' and said, "He left the house just a hour before the murder. He knew Uma Kashyap and Pankaj (Sher Singh) very well. They used to come and meet him often."
Umed Singh, however, stuck to his earlier statements that he 'knew them by face'.
"They used to come to meet my wife, and not me. I do not know them personally," he said.
Denying that Phoolan Devi had written any will, Umed Singh said Kamini Jaiswal was not his wife's counsel.
Singh said the Phoolan Devi Trust for Upliftment of Suppressed will be registered 'very soon'.
When asked about the total value of property left behind by Phoolan Devi, Singh said he would appoint valuators after the 13th day ceremony of his wife, which falls on August 6.
Contradicting his earlier statements, Singh said he wasn't dissatisfied with the police probe till now.
Singh had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the police investigations and demanded a probe by a joint parliamentary committee or the CBI.
Claiming that the murder was a 'big political controversy', Umed Singh said he feared for his life.
"Weapons were recovered from the compound here after the Prime Minister visited. They had checked the whole house and compound before his visit," he said. "I am carrying on the work of my wife. Those who killed her can kill me also," Singh added.
Complete coverage of the Phoolan murder case
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