Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan may soon lose claim to his royal inheritance in Bhopal, as a major legal shift threatens to transfer the ancestral estate to state custody under the Enemy Property Act. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has overturned a 25-year-old ruling that previously recognized the Pataudi family as legitimate heirs to the Nawab of Bhopal’s estate.
According to a Hindustan Times report, Justice Sanjay Dwivedi has ordered a fresh trial to be completed within one year, putting the actor, along with his mother Sharmila Tagore and sisters Soha and Saba Ali Khan, at risk of losing ownership over historic properties like Flag Staff House, Noorus Sabah Palace Hotel, Darus Salam, and Ahmedabad Palace.
What Sparked the Legal Battle?
The case revolves around the estate of Hamidullah Khan, the last Nawab of Bhopal and Saif’s great-grandfather. A 2000 trial court decision had upheld the claim of Sajida Sultan—Saif’s grandmother—as the rightful heir. However, this ruling has now been nullified following a legal challenge by other royal descendants who argue that Abida Sultan, the Nawab’s eldest daughter who migrated to Pakistan in 1950, was the legitimate successor.
Under the Enemy Property Act, 1968, assets of individuals who moved to Pakistan post-Partition can be seized by the Indian government. Since Abida Sultan resided in Pakistan, this classification could apply to her inheritance, making the estate “enemy property.”
Royal Connections and Political Influence
Sajida Sultan was declared the successor in 1961, allegedly influenced by then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s close ties with Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, Saif’s grandfather. This decision went largely uncontested until privy purses and royal titles were abolished in the 1970s under Indira Gandhi’s government, triggering legal action from other royal family members, including Maimoona Sultan and Rabiya Sultan.
Legal Grounds Collapse After Precedent Overturned
The 2000 court judgment heavily relied on the Talat Fatima Hasan verdict, better known as the State of Rampur case, which had upheld royal inheritance based on special succession laws rather than Islamic law. However, that precedent has since been overruled, weakening the legal foundation of Sajida Sultan’s claim.
Legal expert Jagdish Chavan noted, “With the Rampur ruling no longer valid, the basis of Saif Ali Khan’s claim has collapsed. By my estimation, he may only receive 2–3% of the total estate.”
What’s Next?
With the High Court ordering a complete retrial and review of succession rights under Muslim Personal Law and the Enemy Property Act, the future of the Bhopal royal assets remains uncertain. Saif Ali Khan and his family now face a steep legal battle to retain even a fraction of the prestigious estate.