Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has been in the headlines over a massive ₹15,000 crore ancestral property in Bhopal, sparking a heated legal battle. Recently, reports suggested that the property, linked to the late Nawab of Bhopal, might be declared “enemy property” due to historical circumstances. However, the tide has turned in Saif’s favor as the Supreme Court has intervened.
On Friday, the Supreme Court stayed the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s earlier order, issuing a notice in response to a petition filed by the Pataudi family. The case revolves around the private estate of Bhopal’s last ruler, Nawab Hamidullah Khan.
Background of the Legal Dispute
In July this year, the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed an order that recognized Saif Ali Khan, his sisters Soha and Saba Ali Khan, and their mother Sharmila Tagore as rightful heirs to the property. This decision was a major setback for the family, prompting them to approach the Supreme Court.
The bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Atul Chandurkar has now put the High Court’s ruling on hold, giving the family a strong legal advantage.
The History Behind the ₹15,000 Crore Estate
The dispute traces back to Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the final ruler of the princely state of Bhopal. He had three daughters, including Saif’s grandmother, Sajida Sultan, and her two sisters. One of the sisters, Abida Sultan, moved to Pakistan after the Partition and settled there.
Following Sajida Sultan’s marriage to Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan of Pataudi, the property eventually passed to Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Saif’s father. Saif is now the legal successor. However, due to Abida Sultan’s move to Pakistan, a portion of the estate was being considered for classification as “enemy property,” leading to the ongoing dispute.
