* A copy of the complaint has also been forwarded to the Senior Superintendent of Police in Phagwara
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Officials confirmed that the matter is under examination by the office of the ADGP (NRI Affairs), Punjab
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No response from the accused or law enforcement authorities was available at the time of reporting
A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) has approached senior police authorities in Punjab alleging illegal dispossession and damage to commercial properties that he claims to have occupied lawfully for nearly five decades. The complaint has drawn attention to issues surrounding tenant rights, property disputes, and the vulnerabilities faced by NRIs managing assets from abroad.
The complainant, Madan Mohan Bajaj, a permanent resident of the United States, has submitted a detailed representation to the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), NRI Affairs, Punjab. He alleged that several rented shops situated on Banga Road were forcibly taken over despite his long-standing and uninterrupted possession.
According to Bajaj, the shops were taken on rent in 1975 from the original owner, late Bakshish Kaur. He maintained that rent was paid regularly during her lifetime and continued to be paid to her legal heirs thereafter. Bajaj stated that there had never been any disagreement or litigation with the owners or their successors over the tenancy during this extended period.
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The dispute allegedly escalated earlier this month when three individuals, along with unidentified associates, approached the premises claiming ownership and allegedly pressured Bajaj and his son to vacate the shops
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Fearing illegal action, Bajaj said he sought legal recourse by filing a civil suit for permanent injunction, which is currently pending before a competent court in Phagwara
Despite the matter being sub judice, Bajaj alleged that on December 24, the accused forcibly entered the shops in his absence. He claimed the existing locks were broken and replaced, CCTV cameras were damaged, and several items were removed from the premises. These allegedly included fixtures, fittings, important documents such as property papers and bank records, and cash amounting to Rs 50,000.
Bajaj further stated that the electricity connections to the shops were active and that all dues had been cleared, which he believes supports his claim of continuous and lawful possession. He has sought police assistance for restoration of possession, recovery of the alleged stolen property, and initiation of legal proceedings against those named in the complaint.
