Simon and Yasmin on the court premises. Picture by Surajit Roy

Malda, Jan. 29: The son and daughter of A.B.A. Ghani Khan Chowdhury have flown down from Europe to stake claim to the deceased Congress leader’s property here.

Simon Hyat Khan Chowdhury, 45, and Yasmin Khan Chowdhury, 40, today filed an affidavit in court, appealing for an end to the long-standing dispute over property rights between Ghani Khan Chowdhury and his younger brother, Abu Naser Khan Chowdhury.

Simon, who stays in Staffordshire in England and is into transport business, said: “I have come back after 24 years. Malda has changed.” Yasmin and Neelam, the other sister, reside in Switzerland.

In 1989, Abu Naser had filed the case alleging that he was being deprived of the rightful share of the property owned by his father, Hyat Khan Chowdhury.

Abu Naser, who also resides in Switzerland, today told the sub-judge that he no longer wished to contest the case. “Last year, Barkatda had asked me to settle the dispute. But after that, he passed away,” said Abu Naser. “Back in 1989, the valuation of the property was Rs 1.8 crore. Now, it is over Rs 20 crore.”

A large crowd had gathered on the court premises this morning to catch a glimpse of Simon and his sister who had arrived from Calcutta on Gour Express. “Their mother, Esther, left for Switzerland in 1963,” said Abu Naser.

District Congress president and Abu Naser’s sister Ruby Noor said: “Had he been alive, Barkatda would have been very happy that the dispute has ended.”