Saif Ali Khan's Royal Property Claim Worth Rs 15000 Crore In Jeopardy: 5 Key Questions Answered
The decision has reignited a complex legal battle rooted in princely succession laws, post-Partition migration, and the controversial Enemy Property Act.
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan's claim to a sprawling ₹15,000 crore ancestral estate in Bhopal has hit a major legal roadblock. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has quashed a decades-old ruling that had earlier validated the Pataudi family's ownership of the royal properties inherited from the Nawab of Bhopal. The decision has reignited a complex legal battle rooted in princely succession laws, post-Partition migration, and the controversial Enemy Property Act.
Here's what the case is about, and what the latest developments — five key questions answered:
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, along with his mother and two sisters, has been staking claim to a sprawling set of ancestral properties inherited from the erstwhile Nawab of Bhopal. These include high-value assets such as Noor-Us-Sabah Palace Hotel, Flag Staff House, and thousands of acres in and around Bhopal. The legitimacy of this claim, upheld by a trial court nearly 25 years ago, has now been thrown into question.
What Has the Madhya Pradesh High Court Ruled?
In a significant blow to the Pataudi family, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has overturned the 25-year-old order that validated their ownership of the Bhopal royal estate. Justice Sanjay Dwivedi has directed that the case be heard afresh by the trial court, with a mandate to resolve the matter within a year. Until then, Saif and his family cannot claim legal ownership of the properties.
The challenge stems from both legal heirs of the Nawab's family and the Enemy Property Act, 1968. The latter empowers the government to seize properties of individuals who migrated to Pakistan after Partition. In 2015, the Enemy Property Department initiated an inquiry into how the Pataudi family was allowed to inherit what some allege should have been classified as 'enemy property." Saif Ali Khan had contested this probe.
Who Were the Original Heirs and Why Is There a Dispute?
The dispute traces back to Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal, who had three daughters—Abida Sultan, Sajida Sultan, and Rabia Sultan. As per the Bhopal Succession to the Throne Act, 1947, the eldest child was the rightful heir. But Abida Sultan migrated to Pakistan in 1950, ten years before the Nawab's death. Technically, that made the property liable for seizure under the Enemy Property Act. However, Sajida Sultan—Saif's grandmother—was declared the legal successor, reportedly due to her marriage to Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and his close ties with then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
What Happens Next?
With the High Court order wiping the legal slate clean, a district court will now re-examine the ownership claims in detail. The case reopens the long-standing rift within the Nawab family and brings fresh scrutiny to the political influence that shaped the royal succession in post-Independence India. Until a new verdict is reached, the Pataudi family's claim to the Bhopal estate remains legally unrecognized.
First Published:
July 07, 2025, 09:25 IST
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