In a setback for actor Saif Ali Khan and his family, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a retrial in the case concerning their rights to ancestral properties worth an estimated ₹15,000 crore. The properties in question once belonged to the rulers of the princely state of Bhopal. The High Court's decision overturns a verdict from a trial court dating back two decades, which had upheld the Pataudi family's ownership.
The legal battle revolves around the inheritance of the estate of Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal. He had three daughters: Abida, Sajida, and Rabia. The dispute arose because of conflicting claims regarding the rightful heirs after Nawab Hamidullah Khan's death in 1960. The petitioners in the case argued that the Nawab's personal property should have been divided among all his legal heirs, including themselves, according to Muslim Personal Law. They contested the earlier court's decision to recognize Sajida Begum, Saif Ali Khan's grandmother, as the sole successor based on a certificate issued by the Indian government in 1962.
The High Court's order, issued by Justice Sanjay Dwivedi on June 30, sends the matter back to the trial court for a fresh hearing. The court has instructed the trial court to expedite the proceedings and aim to reach a decision within one year. This order came in response to appeals filed by other descendants of Nawab Hamidullah Khan, who challenged the inheritance of the property by Saif Ali Khan, his mother Sharmila Tagore, and his sisters Soha and Saba Ali Khan. The appellants argued that the initial dismissal of their suits in 2000 was unfair.
Further complicating the matter, a portion of the Bhopal properties has been classified as "enemy property" by the government, a designation that stems from the migration of one of Nawab Hamidullah Khan's daughters, Abida Sultan, to Pakistan after the Partition. The government's claim is based on the Enemy Property Act, which allows the government to take control of properties belonging to those who moved to enemy nations. The Pataudi family has challenged this classification, arguing that the inheritance should rightfully belong to the lineage that remained in India. Saif Ali Khan's petition against this classification was dismissed by the High Court in December 2024.
The High Court found fault with the trial court's reliance on a previous judgment from the Allahabad High Court, which the Supreme Court has since overturned. The Supreme Court had affirmed that the personal property of former rulers should be treated under personal succession laws, not as political inheritance.
The properties in question include numerous assets, such as Bhopal's Flag Staff House, a hotel, a palace, and extensive land holdings in and around Bhopal. The outcome of the retrial could significantly alter the inheritance dynamics of the Bhopal royal family. While facing these legal challenges, Saif Ali Khan continues to pursue his career in the film industry.
