Government may take control of Pataudi family’s Rs 15000 crore property in Bhopal

Among the properties under scrutiny are the iconic Flag Staff House, Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace, and Kohefiza Property.

The Pataudi family's historical properties in Bhopal, valued at an estimated Rs 15,000 crore, are now at the center of a potential government takeover under the Enemy Property Act, 1968. This move follows a significant ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which recently lifted a stay imposed on these properties since 2015.

Among the properties under scrutiny are the iconic Flag Staff House, Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace, and Kohefiza Property. The Flag Staff House holds particular sentimental value, as it is where Saif Ali Khan, a descendent of the Pataudi lineage, spent his childhood.

Justice Vivek Agarwal, in his ruling, stated that a statutory remedy exists under the amended Enemy Property Act of 2017. He directed concerned parties to file a representation within 30 days. "If a representation is filed within 30 days from today, the appellate authority shall not advert to the aspect of limitation and shall deal with the appeal on its own merits," the court noted.

The Enemy Property Act grants the Indian government the authority to claim properties owned by individuals who migrated to Pakistan after Partition. The controversy surrounding the Pataudi estate stems from the migration of Bhopal’s last Nawab, Hamidullah Khan’s eldest daughter, Abida Sultan, to Pakistan in 1950. However, his second daughter, Sajida Sultan, remained in India, married Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, and became the legal heir. Sajida’s grandson, Saif Ali Khan, inherited a share of these properties.

In 2019, a court ruling recognized Sajida Sultan as the rightful heir, but the recent decision has reignited the property dispute. Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh announced plans to review ownership records spanning the last 72 years and hinted that current residents may be classified as tenants under state leasing laws.

This development has created unrest among approximately 1.5 lakh residents who live on these lands. Many fear displacement as the government initiates surveys to establish ownership. Local residents voiced concerns over taxation without proper registries and questioned the validity of old leases.

The Pataudi family retains the option to appeal, leaving the ultimate fate of these storied properties uncertain.