Saif’s Rs 15,000 Crore Property Under Government Radar

The Indian government is reportedly preparing to seize property worth Rs 15,000 crore belonging to the Pataudi family, which Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan is linked to. This move comes following a significant ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which lifted a stay imposed in 2015 on the properties. The court cited the 1968 Enemy Property Act as the basis for government action to claim the assets.

The disputed properties include the Flag Staff House, where Saif spent his childhood, along with Noor-us-Saheb Palace, Dar-us-Salaam, Bangla of Habib, Ahmadabad Palace, and Khofija properties. The High Court ruled that individuals connected to the case could file petitions within 30 days.

Under the Enemy Property Act, properties belonging to individuals who migrated to Pakistan after the partition could be seized by the Indian government. The case revolves around Abida Sultan, the eldest daughter of the last Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan, who migrated to Pakistan in 1950. Her younger sister, Sajida Sultan, stayed in India and married Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, making her the legal heir to the Pataudi estate.

Saif Ali Khan, Sajida Sultan's grandson, is entitled to a share of the property. However, due to Abida Sultan’s migration, the properties could now be classified as enemy property, subject to government acquisition.

The ongoing review of ownership records spanning 72 years by the Bhopal Collector, Kaushalendra Vikram Singh, has caused concern among approximately 1.5 lakh residents living on these properties. They fear the government’s decision might lead to their displacement.