Justice Vivek Agarwal, who delivered the judgment, noted that there is a legal remedy under the amended Enemy Property Act of 2017. He directed the concerned parties to file a representation within 30 days.
Madhya Pradesh: The Pataudi family’s historic properties, valued at Rs 15,000 crore and associated with Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, are now closer to being taken under government control. The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently ruled to lift a stay placed on these properties in 2015. This decision brings the properties one step closer to possible acquisition under the Enemy Property Act of 1968.
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Some of the prominent properties under scrutiny include the Flag Staff House, where Saif Ali Khan spent his childhood, along with other key properties like Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace, and Kohefiza Property.
Justice Vivek Agarwal, who delivered the judgment, noted that there is a legal remedy under the amended Enemy Property Act of 2017. He directed the concerned parties to file a representation within 30 days.
He further stated, “If a representation is filed within 30 days from today, the appellate authority shall not advert to the aspect of limitation and shall deal with the appeal on its own merits.”
The Enemy Property Act allows the central government to claim properties owned by individuals who moved to Pakistan after the Partition.
Bhopal’s last Nawab, Hamidullah Khan, had three daughters. His eldest daughter, Abida Sultan, migrated to Pakistan in 1950. The second daughter, Sajida Sultan, stayed in India, married Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, and became the legal heir. Sajida’s grandson, Saif Ali Khan, inherited a portion of the properties. However, Abida Sultan’s migration became the key reason for the government’s claim over the properties as “enemy property.“
In 2019, the court acknowledged Sajida Sultan as the legal heir, but the recent ruling has reignited the property dispute within the family. Bhopal’s collector, Kaushalendra Vikram Singh, has announced plans to review the ownership records of these properties from the last 72 years. He mentioned that individuals currently living on these lands might be treated as tenants under the state’s leasing laws.
This potential government takeover has caused a lot of anxiety among the 1.5 lakh residents living on these properties. Many fear eviction as the government starts conducting surveys and determining ownership.
Sumer Khan, a resident, shared his concerns, saying, “The stay has been lifted, but merging these properties under the Enemy Property Act is complicated. The Pataudi family still has a chance to appeal.”
Chand Mian, another resident, also expressed worry, saying, “We pay taxes, but there’s no registry for our homes. The Nawab’s leases should still stand.”
Naseem Khan, another local resident, pointed out, “The government is claiming these properties, but many have been sold or leased over the years. This issue is far from straightforward.”
