Saif Ali Khan is set for a big legal and financial setback as the Madhya Pradesh High Court decided against him in the prolonged succession fight over the Bhopal royal properties. The large estate estimated to be worth about 15,000 crore boasts palaces, land holdings, and historic buildings all linked to his paternal heritage. Read to know more on what happened in detail
Did Saif Ali Khan Lose His 15000 Crore Ancestral Property?
In a recent June 30 order, the High Court reversed a previous trial court decision that had acknowledged Saif, his mother Sharmila Tagore, and sisters Soha and Saba Ali Khan as legitimate heirs of the property. The matter will go back to the trial court for rehearing, which the High Court has directed to be completed within one year.
This follows another setback concerning the Enemy Property Act, a legislation that permits the Indian government to confiscate properties of those who migrated to Pakistan following Partition. A central aspect of the controversy emanates from Saif’s great-grandmother, Abida Sultan, daughter of the late ruling Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan. Abida immigrated to Pakistan in 1950 and surrendered her Indian citizenship, which subsequently led to parts of the family’s property being designated as enemy property by the authorities.
Though Saif had secured a temporary reprieve on the Enemy Property verdict in 2015, that safeguard was removed by the court in December 2024. Ever since, the government has had the legal authority to seize the properties. Saif and his relatives were allowed 30 days to appeal, but no formal appeal was made, and hence the state went ahead and seized the properties.
Also Read: Saif Ali Khan’s Rs 15000 Crore Pataudi Family Property In Trouble? Here’s What We Know
The reported property in dispute comprises famous locations like Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Flag Staff House, and more than 7,000 acres of land divided among Bhopal and Raisen.