Bhopal: The destiny of properties value Rs 15,000 crore, owned by the previous rulers of Bhopal and inherited by actor Saif Ali Khan and his household, stays unsure. This is because of doubts about whether or not an attraction has been filed in opposition to an order by the Workplace of the Custodian of Enemy Property, in accordance with legal professionals. If the Nawab of Bhopal’s successors don’t problem the order, the properties may come beneath the management of the central authorities.
It’s unclear if an attraction has been filed with the Mumbai-based Workplace of the Custodian of Enemy Property, which operates beneath the Union Dwelling Ministry, following a December 13, 2024, choice by the Madhya Pradesh Excessive Courtroom. Saif Ali Khan’s mom, actress Sharmila Tagore, and others had earlier challenged a 2015 order by the Custodian of Enemy Property, which labeled the Nawab’s properties as “Enemy Property.”
The Workplace of the Custodian of Enemy Property, beneath the Dwelling Ministry, dominated that the properties of Nawab Muhammad Hamidullah Khan needs to be labeled as “Enemy Property.” This choice was based mostly on the truth that his eldest daughter, Abida Sultan Begum, moved to Pakistan after Partition. Because of this, the properties she was purported to inherit have been deemed to belong to the Custodian of Enemy Property for India.
Nevertheless, senior advocate Jagdish Chhavani, an skilled on the Nawab’s property issues, referred to a authorities order from January 10, 1962. This order said that after Nawab Hamidullah Khan’s dying in 1960, the Authorities of India acknowledged Sajida Sultan Begum as his sole successor. The order confirmed that Sajida Sultan Begum inherited all of Nawab Hamidullah Khan’s personal properties, each movable and immovable, and that the Authorities of India had no objection to transferring the properties to her.
Sajida Sultan Begum, the second daughter of Nawab Hamidullah Khan, turned the proprietor of his properties after her elder sister, Abida Sultan Begum, moved to Pakistan. Sajida’s son, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (Tiger Pataudi), later inherited the properties, and after his passing, Saif Ali Khan turned their rightful proprietor. These properties are estimated to be value almost ₹15,000 crore.
Nevertheless, the Custodian of Enemy Property’s ruling labeled the properties as “Enemy Property,” making a dispute over possession. This choice was challenged in 2015 by Sharmila Tagore (Saif Ali Khan’s mom and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s spouse) within the Madhya Pradesh Excessive Courtroom.
Throughout a listening to on December 13, 2024, the federal government lawyer said that the Enemy Property Act, 1968, had been repealed in 2017, efficient retrospectively. A brand new appellate authority was set as much as resolve disputes concerning enemy property.
Justice Vivek Agrawal, in his December 13 order, suggested the concerned events to make use of the statutory treatment of submitting a illustration with the appellate authority. Nevertheless, he famous that the difficulty of time limitations may come up as a result of delay in pursuing this treatment.
“Subsequently, it’s directed that if illustration is filed inside thirty days from immediately (December 13), then the appellate authority shall not advert to the facet of limitation and shall cope with the attraction by itself deserves,” the order mentioned. “In above phrases, the petitions stand disposed of,” it added.
Nevertheless, Bhopal Collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh mentioned he has not seen the excessive courtroom order and can remark solely after getting all related particulars. Advocate Chhavani mentioned in case Saif Ali Khan’s household has not but filed an attraction throughout the stipulated interval of 30 days from the date of order, they (Khan household) can nonetheless method the authorities and request for an extension citing numerous exigencies, together with the current one (assault on the actor at his Mumbai residence).
He mentioned until this confusion prevails, the destiny of lakhs of individuals occupying these properties as homeowners and tenants will stay in limbo. The properties inherited by Saif Ali Khan and his household embody Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace and Flag Workers Home. The Enemy Property Act was handed in Parliament within the aftermath of the India-Pakistan battle (1965) to manage properties left behind in India by those that emigrated to Pakistan.
(With inputs from PTI)
