Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and his family are facing a significant legal setback concerning their ancestral properties in Bhopal, now declared “enemy property” by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Major Setback for the Bhopal Royal Family
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has overturned a previous trial court order concerning the long-standing inheritance dispute of the Bhopal royal family. This ruling impacts actor Saif Ali Khan, his sisters Soha and Saba, and mother Sharmila Tagore.
The earlier decision had recognized Saif’s family as successors to the properties. However, heirs of Nawab Hamidullah Khan challenged this, seeking a partition of private properties under Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act, 1937, which was applicable at the time of the Nawab’s death.
The High Court has now sent the case back to the trial court, instructing them to restart proceedings and conclude within one year. This decision could significantly alter the entire inheritance structure of the Bhopal royal family’s assets.
Properties Declared ‘Enemy Property’
In a separate but equally impactful development, Saif Ali Khan’s plea against the government’s decision to declare their ancestral properties in Bhopal as “enemy property” was rejected by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
This ruling involves assets valued at approximately Rs 15,000 crore. The declaration stems from a 2014 notice issued by the Custodian of Enemy Property Department, bringing the Pataudi family’s Bhopal assets under the stringent Enemy Property Act.
Key properties included in this declaration are Saif’s childhood home, Flag Staff House, the historic Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace, and Kohefiza Property, among others.
Understanding the ‘Enemy Property Act’
The Enemy Property Act allows the Indian government to seize control of properties belonging to individuals who migrated to Pakistan or China after conflicts such as the 1965 and 1971 wars. In this specific case, the government cites the migration of one of Nawab Hamidullah Khan’s daughters, Abida Sultan, to Pakistan.
Saif Ali Khan is the grandson of Abida’s sister, Sajida Sultan, who remained in India. Despite this direct lineage in India, the government is using the link to the migrant daughter as grounds to claim control over the family’s assets.
A Long Legal Battle
Saif Ali Khan first contested the “enemy property” declaration in 2015 and had initially secured a temporary stay from the High Court. However, this stay was explicitly lifted on December 13, 2024.
Following the lifting of the stay, Saif and his family were given 30 days to approach authorities and claim their rights over the properties. Reports indicate that no such claim has been filed within the allotted timeframe, potentially solidifying the government’s control over these significant assets.
- The Madhya Pradesh High Court has set aside a previous order, remanding the Bhopal royal family inheritance dispute back to the trial court.
- Approximately Rs 15,000 crore worth of Saif Ali Khan’s ancestral properties in Bhopal have been declared “enemy property.”
- This declaration is due to the Enemy Property Act, triggered by the migration of Saif’s great-aunt to Pakistan.
- Saif’s previous legal challenge against this declaration was rejected, and a stay order was lifted.
This ongoing legal saga highlights the complexities of historical property disputes and the far-reaching implications of the Enemy Property Act on prominent families across India.
