Government May Take Over Saif Ali Khan And Family’s Rs 15,000 Crore Properties
Properties linked to Saif Ali Khan and the Pataudi family might come under the government’s control.
The Pataudi family’s historical properties, estimated to be worth Rs 15,000 crore and tied to Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan's lineage, are reportedly edging closer to a potential government acquisition. This development is followed by a key ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which recently lifted the 2015 stay imposed on these properties, enabling their possible takeover under the Enemy Property Act, 1968. This comes on the heels of Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing case. The Bollywood star was recently discharged after undergoing emergency surgery at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai.
Coming back to the properties under scrutiny, the prominent assets in question include the Flag Staff House, where Saif Ali Khan spent his childhood, as well as Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace and Kohefiza Property, among others.
As per reports, Justice Vivek Agarwal, in his recent verdict, emphasized the availability of statutory remedies under the revised Enemy Property Act of 2017. The court directed concerned parties to file a representation within 30 days.
“If a representation is filed within 30 days from today, the appellate authority shall not advert to the aspect of limitation and shall deal with the appeal on its own merits,” the court said, as per NDTV.
The Enemy Property Act empowers the central government to claim properties left behind by individuals who migrated to Pakistan after partition.
Bhopal's last Nawab, Hamidullah Khan, had three daughters, of whom the eldest Abida Sultan relocated to Pakistan in 1950. Meanwhile, the second daughter Sajida Sultan remained in India, married Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, and became the legal heir. Saif Ali Khan, Sajida Sultan's grandson, inherited a portion of these properties. However, the government’s claim as “enemy property” centres around Abida Sultan’s migration.
In 2019, the court reportedly recognised Sajida Sultan as the rightful heir. However, the new ruling has reignited disputes surrounding the ownership of these historical assets.
Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh revealed plans to review 72 years of ownership records for these properties. He also said that current residents occupying the lands might be treated as tenants under state leasing laws, adding further uncertainty for around 1.5 lakh people who live on these lands. Many residents fear eviction as the government intensifies surveys to ascertain ownership.
As per NDTV, Sumer Khan, a local resident, noted that while the stay has been removed, the process of merging the properties under the Enemy Property Act remains complicated, and the Pataudi family still has legal options to appeal.
Another resident named Chand Mian expressed concern over the lack of registries for their homes despite paying taxes, asserting that leases granted by the Nawab should still hold validity.
Naseem Khan, who also lives in the area, highlighted the complexities involved in the situation, pointing out that many properties have been sold or leased over decades, complicating the government's claims.
The dispute over these historic properties remains unresolved, with ongoing legal avenues for the Pataudi family. For now, the fate of these assets hangs in uncertainty, impacting not just the family but also the lives of thousands of residents.
