Ancestral jewellery worn by Meena Kumari part of Rs 37cr swindle: Tajdar

Kamal Amrohi’s son claims heirlooms worn by actor in Pakeezah was also invested in firm that never took off, as EOW registers FIR.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered an FIR against Bandra-based businessman Amrit Mangnani based on the complaint lodged by legendary director Kamal Amrohi’s son Tajdar, who alleged the latter had cheated him of over Rs 37 crore including a set of antique jewellery worn by actor Meena Kumari in the 1972 blockbuster Pakeezah.

Apart from the money, Tajdar claimed he had also handed over antique family jewellery to him as part of the investment. “This jewellery is ancestral property and handed down from generation to generations. One part of the jewellery was gifted to my father’s second wife, Mehmoodie, and the other part to Meena Kumari. Part of it has been gifted to my wife by her mother. It is worth crores now because of its antique and historic value,” said Tajdar.

He added the jewellery had been worn by Meena Kumari in the song Chalte Chalte from Pakeezah, which was her last movie. “Now it belongs to my wife. I have full faith in the judiciary and hope that my ancestral property is returned to me soon. Apart from the monetary value, we have an emotional bond with it,” Tajdar said.

In his complaint to EOW, Tajdar alleged that Mangnani, who he claimed was his actor son Bilal’s childhood friend, had lured him into investing in a firm named HAK Hiring Pvt Ltd. Records show the firm being owned by Mangnani, his parents and brother. The complaint said the Amrohis were told HAK Pvt Ltd was into gold mining, and had licenses to carry out mining in Madhya Pradesh.

The complaint adds that the Amrohis were also offered a stake in the firm, and they invested Rs 37.35 crore between 2012 and 2013. Late last year, the Amrohis were told they would be getting Rs 70 crore in return following a deal with a Singapore-based firm.

“I was told the Singapore firm would invest Rs 120 crore in HAK, and I would be given Rs 70 crore,” Amrohi said in his complaint. Tajdar, who is Amrohi’s son with Mehmoodie, said he confronted the Mangnanis only to be given empty promises.

Earlier this month, however, the Mangnanis told him the venture had failed to take off and none of the investors will be paid, following which he filed a police complaint. Additonal CP Rajvardhan said, “An FIR has been registered against the Mangnanis and investigations are on.”