In a significant legal development, the Madhya Pradesh government may soon take possession of properties owned by actor Saif Ali Khan’s family, valued at ₹15,000 crore. These properties, located in Bhopal, were previously under a stay order, but the stay has now been lifted.
The properties under scrutiny include the Flag Staff House, Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace, Kohefiza Property, and several others. These assets were originally part of the Pataudi family’s estate, with Saif Ali Khan and his mother, actress Sharmila Tagore, holding them since the last Nawab of Bhopal’s time.
Legal Battle and High Court Ruling
The legal troubles for Saif Ali Khan began in 2014 when the Custodian of Enemy Property Department issued a notice declaring the Pataudi family’s properties in Bhopal as “enemy property.” The properties were linked to Abida Sultan, the daughter of Bhopal’s last Nawab, Hamidullah Khan, who had settled in Pakistan after Partition.
In 2015, Saif Ali Khan challenged the notice in the Madhya Pradesh High Court and succeeded in obtaining a stay on the properties. However, on December 13, 2024, Justice Vivek Agarwal of the High Court dismissed the actor’s petition, lifting the stay and ruling that the properties would be treated as enemy assets. The court also granted Saif Ali Khan the right to appeal to the Appellate Tribunal, but the family has yet to take action.
Properties Under “Enemy Property” Act
The Pataudi family’s estate falls under the provisions of the Enemy Property Act, 1968, which allows the Indian government to take over properties linked to individuals who moved to Pakistan and renounced their Indian citizenship after the 1947 Partition. The act was passed following the India-Pakistan War of 1965, empowering the government to seize assets categorized as enemy property.
Since Abida Sultan chose to settle in Pakistan, the Pataudi family’s properties were categorized as enemy property. Despite the legal setbacks, Saif Ali Khan has yet to make an official claim to the properties through the appellate process.
What’s Next?
With the High Court ruling and the expiration of the 30-day window for filing an appeal, the Madhya Pradesh government now has the legal authority to acquire the properties. The Bhopal district administration is expected to take action soon, making the future of Saif Ali Khan’s ancestral properties uncertain.
The Pataudi family’s vast estate in Bhopal, stretching from Kohefiza to Chiklod, is valued at an estimated ₹15,000 crore. The situation remains dynamic, with the possibility of further legal actions in the coming months.
এনেধৰণৰ অন্যান্য বা-বাতৰিৰ বাবে লাইক কৰক অসম লাইভ ২৪ ৰ ফেচবুক পেজ
