Actor Saif Ali Khan has encountered legal complications as the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently dismissed his longstanding plea challenging the government’s decision to classify his family’s ancestral properties in Bhopal as “enemy property.”
Saif Ali Khan’s Ancestral Properties In Bhopal Now Termed ‘Enemy Properties’
The case originated from an appeal filed by the heirs of Nawab Hamid Ullah Khan, who migrated to Pakistan after partition and relinquished Indian citizenship. This appeal contested the previous distribution of properties, which favoured Sajida Sultan, Nawab’s daughter from his senior wife. The court has now scheduled a trial to examine the matter.
The dispute involves properties valued at approximately Rs 15,000 crore, including historic sites such as the Flag Staff House, Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, and Ahmedabad Palace. The High Court’s ruling is significant because it challenges the earlier assumption that the Nawab’s personal properties automatically became part of the royal inheritance and thus belonged to the next ruler.
Saif Ali Khan’s legal challenge, rooted in a 2014 notice from the Custodian of Enemy Property Department, was initially filed in 2015, resulting in a temporary stay granted by the High Court. However, on December 13, 2024, the court lifted this stay and dismissed his petition. The order provided Saif and his family with 30 days to appeal to the appellate tribunal for rights over the properties, but no such appeal was filed within that period. With the deadline now expired, the properties are legally subject to government seizure, and the Bhopal district administration may proceed with their takeover.
What Is The Enemy Property Act?
The Enemy Property Act, of 1968, is an Indian law that addresses properties left behind by individuals who migrated to countries designated as “enemies” during conflicts. These properties are classified as ‘enemy property.’ In Saif Ali Khan’s case, some properties were designated as such following the migration of Abida Sultan, the Nawab’s eldest daughter, to Pakistan after Partition.
The Pataudi estate is implicated by this legislation because Saif’s great-grandmother, Abida Sultan—daughter of Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal—migrated to Pakistan, renouncing her Indian citizenship. Saif is a direct descendant of Abida Sultan’s sister, Sajida Sultan. This dispute, along with a separate court ruling concerning the Bhopal royal inheritance, adds further complexity to the legal legacy of the Pataudi family.
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Akankshya Mukherjee has a passion for creativity and the drive to contribute as a valuable asset to the organisation. She is hungry for learning new skills. For her professional journey, she sees potential growth in communications, content writing, and reporting.
