Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and his family are at the center of a high-stakes legal battle over ancestral properties in Bhopal worth a staggering ₹15,000 crores. The dispute traces its roots back to the royal lineage of the princely state of Bhopal, specifically Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the last ruling king.
Nawab Hamidullah Khan had two daughters, Abida Sultan and Sajida Sultan. According to the royal custom, the eldest child, Abida Sultan, inherited the family’s property. However, in 1950, Abida Sultan migrated to Pakistan, leaving her younger sister, Sajida Sultan, who chose to stay in India, to take control of the estate. Sajida Sultan, who was Saif Ali Khan’s grandmother, became the legal owner of the vast property.
The controversy arose when the Indian government invoked the Enemy Property Act, which allows the state to seize the properties of individuals who migrated to Pakistan or China during the partition. Since Abida Sultan, the original heir, had relocated to Pakistan, the government claimed the assets as “enemy property.”
In a recent development, the Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled in favor of the Central Government, granting it the right to seize the ancestral properties, including the iconic palaces and estates in Bhopal. This decision has dealt a significant blow to Saif Ali Khan’s family, who had contested the government’s claim.
Saif Ali Khan, often referred to as the “Nawab of Pataudi,” has remained tight-lipped about the ruling. His family’s connection to Bhopal’s royal history is widely known, but this decision marks a pivotal moment in the saga of their inheritance.
The case underscores the complex intersection of royal legacies, modern legal frameworks, and the turbulent history of India’s partition. For now, the grand estates of Bhopal stand as a reminder of the shifting sands of heritage and governance.