The Delhi Riding Club, behind Safdarjung Tomb and sprawling over three acres, was established in 1968 by World War II veteran Captain Kundan Singh together with an American couple. Singh bequeathed the property to his daughter Beeru who has managed it since.

According to ED, Sherpuria had over a dozen firms in Gujarat and Maharashtra which all incurred enormous losses and had debt. As banks started chasing him, Sherpuria shifted his base to Delhi in 2016. He rented a flat in Gurugram.

“During this period he came to know about one old lady named Beeru Sehgal  who was the owner and resident of Delhi Riding Club which was situated at a posh location in New Delhi near the residence of Honourable Prime Minister of India,” the ED prosecution criticism has stated.

According to ED, it was Sherpuria’s driver who knowledgeable him about her and in addition instructed him that she was unable to handle the membership as a result of her previous age.

“Sanjay Prakash Rai, who wished to portray himself as being close to the Prime Minister’s office and the Indian Government, realized that the club’s property at House No. 1, Near DID, Safdarjung Road, New Delhi was in close proximity to PM’s residence and if he gets hold of this property it would be much easier for him to portray himself as being close to the PM,” the criticism has stated.

To obtain this, ED has claimed, Sherpuria met Sehgal a number of occasions to persuade her that he would run the membership on behalf of her father. He even promised to assemble a home for her on the property.

In his assertion to ED, Sherpuria has stated, “After a lot of discussion, Beeru Sehgal agreed to my proposal and subsequently she handed over the full control of DRC in my hands in 2018-19. An oral agreement was made between me and Beeru Sehgal that I will be giving monetary support till she will be alive to meet her daily expenses.”

Later, after Sehgal agreed, Sherpuria made a cost of Rs 20 lakh from his spouse Kanchan Rai’s account (in September, 2017) and one other Rs 20 lakh from the account of PB Broadcast Media Ltd (earlier often called Campaign Box Pvt Ltd), an organization owned by him, (in February, 2020) to Sehgal.

He subsequently appointed his nephew Pradeep Kumar Rai as supervisor of the membership.

“Slowly his visiting frequency to Delhi Riding Club increased… Finally, in 2017 he moved his family to the Delhi Riding Club and subsequently, Beeru Sehgal, the owner of the property moved out… Beeru Sehgal relinquished her rights to the property and granted complete control of the Club to Sanjay Prakash Rai,” the ED has stated.

It stated this fashion Sherpuria took benefit of the failing well being of a lady and took over an “invaluable property” for a “minuscule compensation”.

After taking up the property, ED has stated, Sherpuria started “inviting different people to his home at Delhi Riding Club and influenced them by showing his photos with… PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, other ministers”, MLAs and influential individuals.

“Apart from still photos… a video of the same ran continuously on a big LED screen at his office,” the ED PC has stated.

Interestingly, the cost made to Sehgal was from a mortgage of Rs 1 crore that he by no means returned.

Beeru Sehgal didn’t reply to calls and messages.