Saif Ali Khan’s Bhopal Estate Declared Enemy Property
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has encountered a legal blow as the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed his petition challenging the declaration of his ancestral properties in Bhopal as ‘enemy property’. The verdict leaves his claim over the royal estate in limbo, reasserting the government’s custody under the Enemy Property Act.
Court Upholds Government Custody
The dispute centers around properties once belonging to Abida Sultan, Saif’s grandmother and the eldest daughter of the last Nawab of Bhopal, who migrated to Pakistan in 1951. As a result of her migration post-Partition, the Indian government classified her holdings as enemy property. The High Court observed that a 1969 unregistered gift deed submitted by the family lacked legal standing and could not be used to claim ownership.
Generational Legacy Under Threat
The properties in question form part of the royal legacy tied to the princely state of Bhopal. Saif, a descendant of the Pataudi lineage, inherited this contested legacy alongside his siblings. However, the court emphasized that unless legitimate succession and ownership are proven under Indian law, the properties will remain in government hands. The verdict echoes earlier judicial opinions which had similarly denied transfer of title based on the unregistered deed.
Legal Recourse Still Open
Saif Ali Khan and his legal team may still approach higher forums, including the Supreme Court or the Enemy Property Appellate Tribunal, for further review. Any such appeal will need to confront prior rulings and satisfy conditions laid under the Enemy Property Act, which bars claimants linked to individuals who acquired Pakistani citizenship.
