TV
Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan is on the news again days after being stabbed by an intruder at his Mumbai residence. However, this time, it is because the historical properties of his Pataudi family, estimated to be worth Rs 15,000 crore, just inched to being taken under government control.
NDTV reports cited a recent order from The Madhya Pradesh High Court that lifted a stay imposed on these properties in 2015, potentially paving the way for their acquisition under the Enemy Property Act of 1968.
The prominent properties under scrutiny include the Flag Staff House, Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace, and Kohefiza Property, all situated in Bhopal.
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The court reportedly said that a statutory remedy exists under the amended Enemy Property Act, of 2017, and directed the parties concerned to file a representation within 30 days. However, as of the last reports, Saif Ali Khan, the inheritor, has yet to file a claim.
What is the Enemy Property Act and How Does It Apply to Saif Ali Khan's Family?
The Enemy Property Act, enacted in 1968 and amended in 2017, allows the Indian government to seize properties of individuals who migrated to Pakistan after the 1947 Partition.
In Saif Ali Khan's case, his paternal aunt migrated to Pakistan, leading the government to claim properties inherited through his paternal grandmother.
According to the NDTV report, Bhopal's last Nawab, Hamidullah Khan, had three daughters out of which, his eldest, Abida Sultan, migrated to Pakistan in 1950. The second daughter, Sajida Sultan, however, stayed in India and married Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, and became the legal heir.
Being Sajida's grandson, Saif Ali Khan, inherited a share of the properties. However, Abida Sultan's migration became the focal point for the central government's claim to the properties as "enemy property."
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Incidentally in 2019, the court recognized Sajida Sultan as the legal heir, but the recent ruling rekindled the family's property dispute. Further, the individuals staying on these lands may be treated as tenants under the state's leasing laws.
