The mess with Modi government was costly, Nawab family became beggars and Saif Ali Khan became ba…

Saif Ali Khan, Bollywood’s suave and celebrated actor, hails from the royal Pataudi lineage, once among the most aristocratic families in India. Though Saif is best known for his roles on the silver screen, his regal heritage has often kept him in the spotlight, especially when it comes to his family’s ancestral properties. Recently, however, this royal heritage has come under serious threat, as the Indian government is considering seizing properties worth approximately ₹15,000 crore, citing them as “enemy property.” This potential confiscation has sparked intense public and legal debate, rooted in a complex historical and political backdrop dating back to India’s independence.

At the center of this controversy lies a number of royal estates located in Bhopal, including the Flag Staff House, Noor Us Sabah Palace, Habibia Bungalow, Ahmedabad Palace, Dar-us-Salam, and the Koh-e-Fiza estate. These properties are not only immensely valuable in monetary terms due to Bhopal’s booming real estate sector, but they also hold deep sentimental value for Saif Ali Khan. The Flag Staff House, in particular, is said to be where Saif spent a significant portion of his childhood, creating memories that now face the risk of being erased by legal formalities.

The key legal instrument in this matter is the Enemy Property Act of 1968. This law allows the Indian government to appropriate properties left behind by people who migrated to enemy countries—specifically Pakistan and China—during or after the 1947 Partition. The legislation was introduced in response to rising tensions with these neighboring countries, especially after the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971 and the Indo-China war of 1962. The Act defines “enemy property” as both movable and immovable assets whose owners took citizenship in an enemy country and left their properties in India without any legal transfer or claim.

The Pataudi estate’s link to this act comes through Hamidullah Khan, the last Nawab of Bhopal and great-grandfather of Saif Ali Khan. Though he remained in India after Partition, his political inclinations reportedly leaned toward Pakistan. He publicly expressed support for Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Pakistan, once declaring his undying loyalty to the new Islamic nation despite being ruler of a dominantly Hindu territory. While his statement might have been overlooked during his lifetime, it has become a crucial element in how the ownership of his assets is now being interpreted under the law.

Hamidullah Khan had no sons but three daughters: Abida Sultan, Sajida Sultan, and Rabia Sultan. Legally, the inheritance of his properties fell to his eldest daughter, Abida Sultan, in accordance with his wishes. However, in 1950, Abida migrated to Pakistan with her son Shaharyar Khan—who later became Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary and Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board—and took up Pakistani citizenship. As a result, her legal ownership of the Indian properties became contentious. Under the Enemy Property Act, once Abida accepted Pakistani citizenship, her rights over the Indian estates ceased.

In her absence, the second daughter, Sajida Sultan—Saif Ali Khan’s grandmother—claimed ownership over the Bhopal properties. With alleged political backing, she managed to gain control of the estate. This legal ambiguity allowed the Pataudi family to use the properties for decades without major government interference. However, the matter was never fully resolved in court.

The situation took a dramatic turn in 2015 when the Modi-led central government reopened the files on enemy properties as part of a broader national security and legal audit. A fresh investigation into the royal Bhopal properties revealed that they were originally registered in Abida Sultan’s name, a Pakistani citizen. In 2017, the Enemy Property Act was amended, stating clearly that no heir of an enemy national would be allowed to claim or inherit such property in India. This amendment closed the loophole that previously allowed some descendants—claiming Indian citizenship—to seek legal ownership of enemy assets.

This legislative change had a direct impact on Saif Ali Khan and his family. The Indian government, empowered by the revised law, reasserted its claim over the Bhopal estate, labeling it as enemy property. In response, the Pataudi family filed legal challenges and obtained a stay order on the proceedings. However, on December 13, 2024, the Madhya Pradesh High Court lifted the stay, giving the family 30 days to file a fresh claim and provide evidence of ownership. Unfortunately, no member of the family was able to submit the required documentation in time. The court not only upheld the central government’s position but also overturned earlier lower court rulings that had provisionally granted the estate to the Pataudi family.

As a result, the vast estate is now officially recognized as enemy property, with the Indian government in full control—pending final confirmation. The fate of the property now rests on whether the family can bring forth any new legal arguments or documentation that can override the provisions of the 2017 amendment. Experts suggest that given the clarity of the current law, reclaiming the property will be an uphill, if not impossible, battle for Saif and his kin.

This case has reignited a broader national conversation about the Enemy Property Act. On one side, there’s an argument rooted in national security and legal consistency: properties owned by those who left India for Pakistan or China—especially in the context of hostile relations—should rightfully belong to the Indian state. On the other side, critics argue that families who remained in India and have upheld Indian citizenship for generations should not be penalized for the political choices of their ancestors. They believe that a distinction must be made between original owners and their lawful heirs who remained loyal to India.

The Pataudi case is emblematic of how deeply personal histories are intertwined with the political ruptures of Partition and its lingering consequences. For Saif Ali Khan, it’s more than a legal or financial battle—it’s about holding on to a cherished piece of his identity and legacy. Whether sentiment and heritage will stand a chance against the hard lines of law remains to be seen.

Until the final verdict arrives, one thing is clear: Saif’s royal inheritance, once a source of pride and prestige, now stands as a contested symbol of a past still shaping the present.

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