The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s recent ruling may pave the way for the government to seize the Pataudi family’s historic properties in Bhopal, valued at $180 billion. This action falls under the Enemy Property Act, 1968, which allows the central government to claim assets linked to individuals who migrated to Pakistan after Partition.
The court lifted a 2015 stay on these properties, enabling the government to pursue ownership. Prominent assets include the Flag Staff House, Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, and Kohefiza Property, all tied to Saif Ali Khan’s family and the legacy of the Nawab of Bhopal. Affected parties have been granted 30 days to present their case.
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The claim arises from Abida Sultan, the eldest daughter of Hamidullah Khan, the last Nawab of Bhopal, migrating to Pakistan in 1950. Her sister, Sajida Sultan, who stayed in India and married Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, became the legal heir. Despite this, the government has invoked the Enemy Property Act due to Abida Sultan’s migration, reigniting the dispute over these properties.
Bhopal’s district collector has ordered a review of ownership records spanning 72 years, leaving residents on these properties uncertain about their future. Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan, who inherited a share of the assets, has previously faced personal challenges, including surviving a brutal knife attack in his Mumbai apartment, which required multiple surgeries.
