THE FAMILY TREE
Raja Padam Singh became the ruler of the erstwhile state of Bushahar (now Kinnaur) in 1911. He married the Ranis of Dhadi and Lambagraon. In March 1948, an agreement was signed between the Rajmata of Bushahar, Shanti Devi, and VP Menon, secretary to the government of India, on behalf of Raja Virbhadra Singh, who was a minor then. As per the agreement, the ruling family was allowed to retain 42,000 bighas of land. A privy purse of Rs 80,000 was also granted to the family.

Raja Padam Singh had three sons — Virbhadra Singh, Raj Kumar Rajinder Singh and Kanwar Jagjeet. Raja Padam Singh granted jagirs to his two wives, Rani of Dhadi and Rani of Lambagraon. However, in 1946, Raja Padam Singh transferred these jagirs in favour of the Rani of Dhadi, Raj Kumar Rajinder Singh and Jagjeet Singh. According to the agreement signed between the Bushahar rulers and the government of India, the new jagirs made to the consorts or children of the rulers were not recognised as private property.

THE ROYAL PROPERTY
After the signing of the agreement the following changes were required in the revenue record:

a) Transfer of properties from the government to the members, which were approved as private properties and which were not owned by the family;
b) Status quo to be maintained in respect of those properties which were earlier owned and had been approved as private properties;
c) Taking over of all other properties owned by the royal family which were not approved as private properties by the government with consequent changes in the revenue records.

Privy purses were to cover all expenses of the rulers. Palaces and other residential buildings were treated as private properties, but forest areas were not given to the rulers. However, some grazing rights in forests had been recognised.

The land owned by Rajmata Shanti Devi in Siarla, Ganvi, Sarahan, Tayawal and Daran villages was included in the inventory of the rulers’ private properties and the Padam Cottage/Palace given to Raj Kumar Rajinder Singh by Raja Padam Singh was also approved as private property.

Sarhan Palace, occupied by Rajmata Shanti Devi, was also approved as private property of the rulers of Bushahar. The agreement was signed by Rajmata Shanti Devi, on behalf of Raja Virbhadra Singh, his heirs and successors. The approved list of private properties consisted of all the properties of Rajmata Shanti Devi, minor Raja Virbhadra Singh, Raj Kumar Rajinder Singh and Kanwar Jagjeet Singh.

THE INQUIRY
According to the inquiry conducted by Sanjay Gupta, excess properties in the names of Rajmata Shanti Devi, Raj Kumar Rajinder Singh and Kanwar Jagjeet Singh caused losses to the state exchequer.

Even after the signing of the agreement, efforts were made by the rulers to prevent the government from taking their excess land. The properties of Raj Kumar Rajinder Singh were handed over to the court of wards in 1949 after the death of the Rani. These lands were not taken over after 1950 when the list of private properties was finalised.

This fact was concealed from various courts. Further, Raj Kumar Rajinder Singh furnished false information that the jagir was granted to him in 1942, whereas it was granted to him in 1946. Thus, there was an attempt to prevent these properties from being taken over by the government.