Reports indicate that historical properties linked to Saif Ali Khan’s family in Bhopal, valued at Rs. 15,000 crore, are one step away from being taken under government control. This follows the Madhya Pradesh High Court lifting a 2015 stay order on these properties. The court’s decision could lead to the acquisition of these ancestral properties under the Enemy Property Act of 1968. Key properties in question include the Flag Staff House, where Saif Ali Khan spent his childhood, as well as Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, the Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace, Kohefiza Property, and others.
Justice Vivek Agarwal delivered the order, referencing the statutory remedy available under the amended Enemy Property Act, 2017. He directed the Pataudi family to file a representation within 30 days.
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The Enemy Property Act allows the central government to claim properties of individuals who migrated to Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. The Pataudi family’s connection to this issue stems from Hamidullah Khan, the last Nawab of Bhopal. His eldest daughter, Abida Sultan, migrated to Pakistan in 1950, and her properties were subsequently claimed as “enemy property.” The second daughter, Sajida Sultan, remained in India, married Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, and became the legal heir. Saif Ali Khan, as the grandson of Sajida Sultan, inherited a share of these properties.
The legal situation remains unresolved, and the Bhopal district administration has refrained from commenting on the matter. However, Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh noted that any action will depend on the clarity of the High Court’s order. Notably, in 2015, the Mumbai-based Enemy Property Custodian Office declared the Nawab of Bhopal’s land as government property, prompting the Pataudi family to challenge the decision in court. The case has been ongoing since 2015, with the High Court hearing involved parties, including Saif Ali Khan, his mother Sharmila Tagore, sisters Soha Ali Khan and Saba Ali Khan, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s sister Sabiha Sultan, and others.
