Govt. Eyeing Pataudi Family’s Rs 15,000-Crore Properties

India-West News Desk

BHOPAL- The Enemy Property Act, enacted after the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, allows the government to take control of properties belonging to individuals who migrated to enemy nations post-Partition. A 2017 amendment clarified that such properties would remain under government control, regardless of inheritance claims or changes in nationality.

Under this law, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has lifted a 2015 stay on properties linked to the Pataudi family, designating them as “enemy property.” Valued at approximately ₹15,000 crore, these assets include iconic landmarks such as Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Flag Staff House, and Dar-Us-Salam.

The case revolves around the descendants of Bhopal’s last Nawab, Hamidullah Khan. His eldest daughter, Abida Sultan, migrated to Pakistan in 1950, while his second daughter, Sajida Sultan, stayed in India, married Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, and became the legal heir. Sajida’s grandson, actor Saif Ali Khan, inherited a share of the properties. However, the government argues that Abida Sultan’s migration makes these assets “enemy property.”

While the court had recognized Sajida Sultan as the legal heir in 2019, the recent decision has revived the dispute. The Bhopal administration is now reviewing ownership records spanning 72 years. It has indicated that residents of these properties might now be treated as tenants under state leasing laws.

This development has caused significant anxiety among approximately 1.5 lakh residents living on these lands. Many of them, despite paying taxes and residing there for decades, now face the threat of eviction and an uncertain future.