Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan, who recently returned home after undergoing surgeries following a January 16 attack, faces the prospect of losing his family’s ancestral property in Bhopal. This property, which once belonged to Nawab Hamidullah Khan, has an estimated value of Rs 15,000 crore and may come under government control due to a recent court ruling.
Among the properties listed are Saif’s childhood home Flag Staff House, the Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, and others. The issue arises from the Enemy Property Act, which allows the government to seize assets of individuals who moved to Pakistan after Partition.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently lifted a stay order on these properties, potentially allowing the government to acquire them under the Enemy Property Act of 1968. Justice Vivek Agarwal, in a December 2024 ruling, directed the parties to submit a representation within 30 days, though it’s unclear if this has been done.
Due to the legal ambiguity, local authorities in Bhopal have refrained from commenting, with Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh stating that any action would depend on further clarification from the High Court.
What is Enemy Property Act and its impact
In 2017, the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill was passed, preventing descendants of individuals who migrated to Pakistan or China during Partition from reclaiming properties left behind in India. This legislation could mean that Saif Ali Khan and his family may no longer have a claim to Nawab Hamidullah Khan’s property.
Background of Pataudi family property dispute
Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the last ruler of Bhopal, had two daughters—Abida Sultan and Sajida Sultan. By tradition, the eldest child, Abida Sultan, inherited the property. However, Abida moved to Pakistan in 1950, and after her father’s death, her sister Sajida Sultan, who remained in India, became the legal owner.
Sajida Sultan, Saif Ali Khan’s grandmother, inherited the property after Abida’s departure. In 1968, the Enemy Property Act was introduced in India, and the debate over the ownership of Nawab’s property has continued since the Custodian of Enemy Property for India classified it as enemy property.