July 7, 2025: Saif Ali Khan’s long-standing legal battle over his family’s royal inheritance has come to a significant halt, as the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently upheld the Indian government’s classification of the ₹15,000 crore Bhopal estate as “enemy property.” This decision effectively strips Saif and his family of their claim to the vast ancestral holdings that once belonged to the former Nawabs of Bhopal.
The dispute traces back to the legacy of Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the last ruler of the princely state of Bhopal. Upon his death, the question of inheritance came into sharp focus. His elder daughter, Abida Sultan, according to Islamic succession laws and family custom, was the rightful heir. However, in 1950, Abida migrated to Pakistan and later served in its foreign service. As a result, the Indian government invoked the Enemy Property Act, a law that allows the state to take over assets belonging to citizens who have migrated to enemy countries.
Following Abida’s departure, her younger sister Sajida Sultan, who remained in India, was appointed as the legal successor to the Nawab’s estate. Sajida was the mother of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the former Indian cricket captain and Saif Ali Khan’s father. The Pataudi family had, over the years, maintained a claim over the Bhopal estate, asserting their inheritance through Sajida.
No Heir to the Throne: Court Rejects Saif Ali Khan’s ₹15,000 Cr Claim
In 2000, a trial court in Bhopal had ruled in favor of the Pataudi family, recognizing Sharmila Tagore, Saif , and his sisters as legal heirs. However, the central government challenged this, citing the Enemy Property Act and arguing that Abida’s migration rendered her share, and by extension, the contested properties—as enemy assets.
The High Court has now overturned the trial court’s decision, noting that it was based on outdated and overruled legal precedents. It has ordered a fresh trial to determine rightful inheritance under Muslim Personal Law. However, this retrial will not impact the classification of the property as “enemy property,” a status that allows the government to take control of the assets.
The recent judgment also noted that the Custodian of Enemy Property had officially declared the estate as enemy property back in 2014. A stay order had temporarily halted government action, but it was lifted in December 2024. Saif and his family did not appeal this ruling within the 30-day window, effectively ending their ability to challenge the government’s claim.
With the stay lifted and the classification now legally upheld, the government is moving ahead to take formal possession of the properties in question. The High Court has also set a one-year timeline for the lower court to conclude the retrial regarding inheritance claims, although the ownership status may not change.
This development highlights a unique confluence of historical inheritance rights, modern law, and the enduring legacy of the Partition. Saif Ali Khan’s family, despite their public profile and royal lineage, now stands as one of many impacted by the broader implications of the Enemy Property Act, a statute rooted in the geopolitics of the subcontinent’s post-independence history.