Pataudi Family’s ₹15,000 Crore Bhopal Heritage: A Royal Legacy on the Brink of Government Seizure

Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu): The Madhya Pradesh High Court has lifted the 2015 stay on historical properties linked to the Pataudi family, estimated to be worth ₹15,000 crore. This decision brings the properties closer to potential acquisition by the government under the Enemy Property Act, 1968.

These properties inherited in part by Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan as the grandson of Sajida Sultan include notable landmarks such as the Flag Staff House, Noor-Us-Sabah Palace and Dar-Us-Salam. The court has directed the concerned parties to file a representation within 30 days under the statutory remedy provided by the amended Enemy Property Act of 2017.

The Enemy Property Act allows the central government to claim properties owned by individuals who migrated to Pakistan after the partition. The last Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan had three daughters. His eldest daughter Abida Sultan migrated to Pakistan in 1950, while his second daughter Sajida Sultan stayed in India and married Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi becoming the rightful heir. Despite a 2019 court acknowledgment of Sajida Sultan as the rightful heir the government has focused on Abida Sultan's migration to justify classifying the properties as "enemy property."

The recent ruling has reignited disputes surrounding the ownership of these assets. The Bhopal district administration plans to review 72 years of ownership records, with the possibility of treating the residents on these lands as tenants under state leasing laws. This has caused anxiety among approximately 1.5 lakh residents many of whom fear eviction as the authorities proceed with surveys to clarify ownership.

Legal experts suggest that while the stay has been lifted, merging these properties under the Enemy Property Act remains complex and the Pataudi family still has the option to appeal.