Saif Ali Khan faces a major legal setback as the Madhya Pradesh High Court rejects his plea over ancestral Bhopal properties, now classified as ‘Enemy Property’.
Royal Legacy Under Siege: The Enemy Property Controversy
Saif Ali Khan and The Pataudi family’s regal past has collided with modern legal realities. At the heart of the controversy lies the Enemy Property Act, a law enacted in 1968 to seize assets of individuals who migrated to Pakistan or China and renounced Indian citizenship. The trigger in Saif Ali Khan’s case is his great-grandmother Abida Sultan, the eldest daughter of Nawab Hamidullah Khan of Bhopal, who moved to Pakistan in 1950.
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In 2014, the Custodian of Enemy Property Department issued a notice declaring the Pataudi family’s sprawling Bhopal estate as enemy property. Saif Ali Khan challenged this classification in 2015 and secured a temporary stay. However, on December 13, 2024, the Madhya Pradesh High Court vacated the stay and dismissed his plea, giving the family 30 days to appeal to the designated tribunal.
With no appeal filed within the deadline, the Bhopal district administration is now legally empowered to begin taking over the contested properties. These include historic buildings and lands stretching from Kohefiza to Chiklod, reportedly valued at ₹15,000 crore.
High Court Retrial: A Royal Battle Rekindled
The legal drama intensified when the High Court overturned a 25-year-old trial court ruling that had favoured Sajida Sultan, Saif’s paternal grandmother and daughter of Nawab Hamidullah Khan. The opposing heirs, descendants of Nawab’s elder brother and other family members, argued that the estate division should follow Muslim Personal Law, not royal succession.
Justice Sanjay Dwivedi of the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered a complete retrial, directing the trial court to conclude proceedings within one year. The ruling opens the door to a fresh examination of property rights, succession laws, and historical claims that date back to pre-Independence princely rule.
The court emphasized that the properties in question are private assets, not tied to the throne, and must be partitioned accordingly. This decision could dramatically alter the distribution of the Bhopal estate and reignite one of India’s most high-profile royal property disputes.
Bollywood Meets Bureaucracy: Saif’s Legal Crossroads
For Saif Ali Khan, the implications go beyond legal paperwork, they touch the core of his identity as the 10th Nawab of Pataudi. The actor, known for his aristocratic lineage and ownership of the Pataudi Palace, now faces the possibility of losing a significant portion of his ancestral wealth.
The properties under dispute include Noor-e-Saba, Flag House, Dar-us-Salam, Ahmedabad Palace, and several quarters and forest lands. These estates are not just real estate—they are symbols of legacy, heritage, and cultural pride.
The government’s stance is clear: since Abida Sultan migrated to Pakistan and renounced Indian citizenship, her share of the estate qualifies as enemy property. The 2016 ordinance further tightened the law, stating that heirs of enemy nationals have no claim over such assets.
Saif’s failure to file an appeal within the stipulated time has left the door open for government acquisition. The district administration may soon initiate proceedings to take control of the properties, potentially affecting not just the Khan family but also individuals who purchased land from them.
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