Saif Ali Khan and Pataudi Family Face Risk of Losing Ancestral Properties Worth Thousands of Crores

Bhopal, 23rd January 2025: Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and his family are on the brink of losing ancestral properties in Madhya Pradesh valued at thousands of crores. A recent verification process revealed that 94 out of 131 properties inherited from his great-grandfather, Nawab Hamidullah Khan of Bhopal, are classified as “enemy property.” This assessment was conducted over a nine-year investigation by the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI).
CEPI’s findings, disclosed in response to a Right to Information (RTI) query on January 3, shed light on the complexities surrounding the Pataudi family’s inheritance. “Enemy property” refers to assets left in India by individuals or entities who migrated to countries designated as “enemy nations” during conflicts. In this case, the dispute traces back to Hamidullah Khan’s heir, Abida Sultan, who migrated to Pakistan three years after India’s Partition in 1947.
The properties of Nawab Hamidullah Khan were transferred to his other daughter, Sajida Sultan, after Abida Sultan’s relocation. Sajida Sultan’s son, Mansur Ali Khan ‘Tiger’ Pataudi, is Saif Ali Khan’s father. In 2015, CEPI issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh government, claiming control over the assets linked to Abida Sultan under the Enemy Property Act of 1968.
“CEPI identified 88 properties in Madhya Pradesh as part of the ‘enemy estate’ in February 2017,” said an official involved in the investigation. “The total 113.6 acres of immovable assets are now valued at ₹1,796 crore.”
The Pataudi family contested the CEPI notice in court. In a significant development, the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently directed Saif Ali Khan and his mother, veteran actor Sharmila Tagore, to approach the Ministry of Home Affairs’ appellate authority for clarification on the status of these properties.
The December 13 hearing, which the Pataudis attended without legal representation, emphasized the need for a resolution. The high court instructed the petitioners to file their representation within 30 days.
RTI petitioner Naresh Kadyan, who sought information about the properties in August 2023, raised concerns about CEPI’s lack of transparency. “Why have the details of these ‘enemy properties’ linked to the Nawab of Bhopal not been made public for so many years?” Kadyan questioned.
Kadyan’s RTI query also sought clarity on how the 2017 amendments to the Enemy Property Act, which apply retrospectively, impact ownership rights. These amendments restrict civil courts from adjudicating disputes involving enemy property and cover property transfers made before and after 1968.
Several litigations are ongoing, involving Saif, Sharmila Tagore, and other members of the former royal family. A prominent case disputes the classification of the Nawab’s properties as divisible assets. “The argument hinges on whether certain properties, such as the palace and land under Sarf-e-Khas (private ownership), can be divided,” said a legal expert familiar with the case.
Despite the mounting legal battles, the Pataudis are yet to secure a clear verdict. CEPI has maintained that the properties remain under the ambit of enemy property laws until the court rules otherwise.
The unfolding legal drama continues to pose challenges for the Pataudi family as they seek to retain their ancestral heritage.