Massive blow to Saif Ali Khan, family, in Rs 15,000 crore ancestral Bhopal property case, after High Court verdict

Time of India

a day ago

In a major turn of events concerning one of Bhopal's most prolonged legal battles over royal inheritance, the
Madhya Pradesh High Court
has overturned a 20-year-old decision issued by a trial court. This decision breathes new life into a case involving the descendants of the former
Nawab of Bhopal
, Mohammad Hamidullah Khan—notably actor
Saif Ali Khan
, his sisters Soha and Saba, and their mother, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore.
Legal Basis Challenged by the High Court
According to a report from
IANS,
the earlier trial court judgment had leaned heavily on a precedent set by the Allahabad High Court in the Talat Fatima Hasan case. That precedent has since been struck down by the Supreme Court in 2020, which clarified that personal property of former royals must follow personal succession laws rather than be treated as political inheritance determined solely by appointments to titular positions.
Because the trial court's decision had drawn extensively from this now-defunct legal reasoning, the High Court concluded that the earlier verdict could no longer stand. Under the authority granted by Order 14 Rule 23A of the Civil Procedure Code, the case was remanded for a full retrial, offering all concerned parties a chance to present their claims again under current legal standards.
Property Claims Span Generations
The conflict traces its roots back to 1999, when two civil suits were initiated seeking division, possession, and detailed accounting of the royal family's ancestral assets. These assets include several lavish properties, both within and beyond Bhopal. The petitioners argued that upon Nawab Hamidullah Khan's death in 1960, his wealth—classified as personal property—should have passed equally to his legal heirs under the principles of
Muslim Personal Law
. They opposed the claim that all the wealth should go solely to his daughter, Begum Sajida Sultan.
However, the Indian government had declared Sajida Sultan as the exclusive heir through a formal communication dated January 10, 1962. This recognition was anchored in the Bhopal Merger Agreement of 1949 and supported by Article 366(22) of the Indian Constitution. In defense, it was maintained that according to the traditions of royal succession and the terms laid out in the merger, all personal property should go to the appointed successor to the Gaddi, or royal throne, and not be distributed among other descendants.
Court Urges Swift Disposal of Retrial
Noting that the case has already lingered for over 20 years, the High Court instructed the lower court to handle the retrial with urgency, aiming to wrap up the proceedings within a year. The case has reignited public interest in one of India's most fabled princely dynasties, where longstanding traditions, constitutional provisions, and religious laws are colliding in the battle for inheritance.
New Complications Arise With 'Enemy Property' Classification
Saif Ali Khan's legal entanglements deepened when the High Court dismissed his objection to a government initiative that categorized a portion of his family's properties in Bhopal—collectively estimated to be worth Rs 15,000 crore—as "enemy property." This categorization stems from a 2014 notification issued by the Custodian of Enemy Property Department. The government cited the Enemy Property Act to assert control over several prime assets, arguing that these estates belong to individuals who migrated to Pakistan after Partition.
Properties affected include Saif's childhood residence, Flag Staff House, as well as the Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace, and the Kohefiza Property. In 2015, Saif managed to secure a temporary stay against this declaration from the High Court. However, the court lifted that stay on December 13, 2024. In its latest ruling, the court granted the family a 30-day window to submit their claims and reassert ownership—but no applications were filed during this period.
A Royal Lineage Under Scrutiny
The original Nawab, Hamidullah Khan, had three daughters. One of them, Abida Sultan, migrated to Pakistan, while the other two, including Sajida Sultan—Saif's grandmother—remained in India. The government's claim over the properties hinges on the fact that one sibling moved to Pakistan, thus branding the estate as enemy property. Saif's family has contested this logic, arguing that inheritance should have followed the lineage that remained in India.
Saif Ali Khan's Career Continues Amid Legal Drama
While the courtroom developments unfold, Saif Ali Khan continues to focus on his film career. He was last seen in the Netflix project Jewel Thief and is currently preparing for the next installment of the action-thriller franchise Race 4. Additionally, he is set to share the screen with Akshay Kumar in an upcoming film titled Haiwaan, directed by Priyadarshan.