Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has once again found himself in the spotlight, but this time not for his films. The reason is the declaration of three of his ancestral properties as ‘Enemy Property’ by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs. These Madhya Pradesh properties, situated in Bhopal, Sehore, and Raisen districts, were notified under this category through a letter dated May 8, 2025, issued by the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI).
Why? A historical and legal backtrail dating from the days of India’s independence, with an immediate link to Pakistan.
A Legacy That Begins at Partition
Saif Ali Khan’s maternal great-grandfather was Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the last ruler of the princely state of Bhopal. A close associate of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Nawab Hamidullah initially tried to keep Bhopal independent or accede it to Pakistan. However, due to Bhopal being a landlocked region, this was not viable, and the state eventually merged with India.
Before his death in 1960, Hamidullah Khan did not leave a clear will. His eldest daughter, Abida Sultan, migrated to Pakistan in 1950 and became a Pakistani citizen. His second wife, Begum Aftab, also moved to Pakistan, while his younger daughter Rabia Sultan went to live with her in-laws. This left Sajida Sultan, another daughter, to manage the family properties in India.
Sajida later married Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, the Nawab of Pataudi, and their son Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Saif’s father, inherited these properties. Over time, they passed on to Saif and his family.
The Enemy Property Act and Its Impact
In 1968, the Government of India enacted the Enemy Property Act, which allowed the government to seize properties of people who migrated to Pakistan or China during or after the Partition, especially those who took foreign citizenship. These properties were categorized as ‘enemy properties’ and brought under the administration of CEPI.
One major amendment in 2017 made the law even harsher: even Indian legal heirs of enemy nationals had no right to stake a claim to ownership or compensation. CEPI has complete discretion to lease, sell, or utilize such properties according to national interest.
How the Saif Ali Khan Case Came to Light
This matter surfaced prominently when activist Amitabh Agnihotri filed a complaint with the Ministry of Home Affairs demanding that the Nawab family produce the original 1949 Bhopal Merger Agreement. In absence of such a document, he urged the government to seize the properties.
A report by Mala Srivastava in the High Court lent further weight to the matter, showing that more than 550 acres of land in Bhopal and outlying districts were still in the name of the Nawab family. Significantly, this land was categorised not as private but as state-owned royal property, which would lend further weight to the government’s argument for taking it under the Enemy Property Act.
Legal Battle and Government Action
Saif Ali Khan, his family members such as Sharmila Tagore and Soha Ali Khan, had opposed this action in the court of law and had previously procured a stay order against seizure.
But in January 2025, the Madhya Pradesh High Court struck down the 2015 stay order, opening the way for the central government to seize the properties.
On 8 May, 2025, CEPI formally designated the three big properties of Bhopal, Sehore, and Raisen as enemy properties owing to their association with Pakistani nationals Abida Sultan and Begum Aftab.
A Landmark Case for Future Disputes
This is a very landmark case of Saif Ali Khan’s royal heritage. It’s not simply about one family’s past it can determine what fate befalls such contentious properties with international connections in the years to come.
The state has already indicated its position: rule of law and national security are superior to birth and heritage. The incident also poses novel questions regarding Partition-era legacies and their consequences in law in the present day.
