Actor Saif Ali Khan has found himself in legal trouble as the Madhya Pradesh High Court has recently rejected his 25-year-long pending plea challenging the government’s decision to label his family’s ancestral properties in Bhopal as “enemy property”.
What happened to Saif Ali Khan’s Bhopal property?
An appeal was filed by the heirs of Nawab Hamid Ullah Khan, who moved to Pakistan post-partition and relinquished their Indian citizenship. It challenged the previous property distribution that had favoured Sajida Sultan, the Nawab’s daughter from his senior wife. The court then decided on the trial.
The case, involving properties estimated to be worth Rs 15,000 crore, is back in the news. It includes several historic places like the Flag Staff House, Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, and Ahmedabad Palace. The High Court’s decision is important because it questions the original court’s belief that the Nawab’s personal properties were automatically part of the royal inheritance and should go to the next chosen ruler.
What is Enemy Property Act?
The Enemy Property Act, 1968, is a law that deals with properties left behind by people who migrate to abroad during times of conflict/war. It is considered “enemies” during that time. Those properties are categorised as ‘enermy property’.
In Saif Ali Khan case, some properties were classified as “enemy property” following the migration of Abida Sultan, the Nawab’s eldest daughter, Saif Ali Khan’s great-grandmother to Pakistan after Partition. The law allows the government to appropriate the assets of those who migrated to Pakistan or China and renounced Indian citizenship.
In December 13, 2024, the High Court not only vacated that stay but also rejected his plea.