Bhopal:
The Pataudi family's historic properties, estimated to be worth Rs 15,000 crore and linked to Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan's family, are a step closer to being brought under government control.
In a landmark ruling, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has lifted the stay imposed on these properties in 2015, potentially paving the way for their acquisition under the Enemy Property Act, 1968.
Prominent properties under scrutiny include the Flag Staff House, where Saif Ali Khan spent his childhood, along with Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace, Kohefiza Property and others.
Justice Vivek Agarwal while passing the order said that there is a statutory remedy under the amended Enemy Property Act, 2017 and directed the parties concerned to file an affidavit within 30 days.
“If a defense is filed within 30 days from today, the appellate authority will not entertain the aspect of limitation and will deal with the appeal on its own merits,” the court said.
The Enemy Property Act allows the central government to requisition properties owned by individuals who migrated to Pakistan after Partition.
Bhopal's last Nawab, Hamidullah Khan, had three daughters. His eldest, 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 some of the properties. However, Abida Sultan's migration became the focus of the government's claim to the properties as 'enemy property'.
In 2019, the court recognized Sajida Sultan as the legal heir, but the recent ruling has reignited the family's ownership dispute.
Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh announced plans to investigate the ownership records of these properties for the past 72 years. He said persons staying on these lands can be treated as tenants under the state's rental laws.
The possible state takeover has left 1.5 million residents in a state of fear. Many fear eviction as the government implements plans to conduct investigations and determine ownership.
“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,” said Sumer Khan, a resident.
Chand Mian, another resident, expressed his concerns. 'We pay taxes, but there is no register for our houses. The Nawab's leases should still be in force.”
Naseem Khan, who lives in the area, also said: “The government claims these properties, but many of them have been sold or rented out over the years. This issue is far from simple.”
The situation is complex and with legal options still open to the family, the fate of these historic properties hangs in the balance.