Sikh leader loses property battle

NCR Tribune India/January 8, 2003

Vancouver -- A Canadian Sikh spiritual leader, who persuaded a dying woman to sign in his name her property worth more than $ 1 million in return for curing her breast cancer, has lost another legal battle to keep the estate.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal ordered Mr Amar Singh to deposit a large security before he could proceed with his appeal of a ruling that found he improperly influenced Ms Surinder Kaur Sidhu to sign over the land, a Vancouver Sun report said.

Last week's ruling by Mr Justice Kenneth Smith followed a ruling in June by the BC Supreme Court that ordered Mr Amar Singh to return property valued at about $ 1.3 million which he got by convincing Ms Sidhu he could cure her cancer, the report added.

The lower court judge ordered Mr Amar Singh to return the land in suburban Surrey to Ms Sidhu's sole remaining heir, her daughter Tage. In July, Mr Amar Singh appealed.

In October, the trial judge handed down supplementary reasons, ordering Mr Amar Singh to pay to the plaintiffs $ 155,000 in assessed costs of the action and $ 172,000 for "adjustments" in respect of the land, according to Vancouver Sun.

Mr Amar Singh subsequently asked the court for a stay of proceedings on those trial court orders pending the hearing of his appeal.

But the Appeal Court judge rejected the application and also ordered him to deposit a security totalling $ 310,000 for trial and appeal costs because he felt Mr Amar Singh's appeal had little chance of success, the Vancouver Sun said.