Saif Ali Khan’s Rs 15,000 crore Bhopal inheritance declared ‘enemy property’ by Madhya Pradesh court.

Actor Saif Ali Khan is facing a serious legal hurdle as the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed his petition challenging the classification of his family’s vast ancestral property in Bhopal as "enemy property". With this ruling, properties estimated to be worth Rs 15,000 crore, once under the royal family of Bhopal, are now legally open for government acquisition.

The dispute dates back to 2014 when the Custodian of Enemy Property for India issued a notice bringing parts of the Pataudi family’s Bhopal estates under the Enemy Property Act. Saif Ali Khan contested the classification in 2015 and had secured a temporary stay. But the High Court lifted the stay on December 13, 2024, ultimately rejecting his claim. The court gave him 30 days to appeal before the appellate tribunal. That deadline has now passed without a new claim being filed, strengthening the state’s claim to the property.

The Enemy Property Act, first introduced in 1958 and later amended following the 1965 India-Pakistan war, allows the Indian government to take over properties left behind by individuals who migrated to Pakistan or China and lost Indian citizenship. Over the years, the law has played a role in several contentious inheritance and property disputes.

The Bhopal inheritance case is also entangled with an older legal battle within the royal family. The High Court has overturned a 25-year-old ruling regarding Nawab Hamidullah Khan’s estate, which had earlier recognised Saif’s great-grandmother, Sajida Sultan, as a rightful heir. The court has now directed the matter back to a trial court for fresh hearings. Other heirs from the royal lineage have argued for division as per Muslim Personal Law.

This development could significantly alter the inheritance claims within the Pataudi family and impact the ownership of several high-value properties linked to the Bhopal royals. While Saif Ali Khan has remained silent on the recent decision, legal experts suggest the matter may still continue in the trial court or higher judicial forums if challenged again.

The Bhopal district administration is expected to initiate proceedings for government takeover in the coming weeks.