In a watershed ruling, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has declared Saif Ali Khan’s ancestral Bhopal estate—valued at approximately ₹15,000 crore—as enemy property under the Enemy Property Act, overturning a two‑decade‑old trial‑court verdict that had recognised inheritance rights for the actor, his mother and sisters. The judgment compels a fresh hearing within one year, reigniting a high‑stakes legal tussle over royal lineage and state custodianship.
The dispute centres on assets once held by the Bhopal royal family, including the Flag Staff House, Noor‑Us‑Sabah Palace, Dar‑Us‑Salam, and other notable estates in Bhopal and Raisen. What has spurred government interest is the migration of Abida Sultan—eldest daughter of the last Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan—to Pakistan in 1950. Under the Enemy Property Act of 1968 and its 2017 amendments, properties of individuals who migrated to “enemy” nations are vested permanently in the government custodian, Saif, a descendant through his great‑grandmother Sajida Sultan, had challenged this classification. In 2000, a district court decision favoured Saif, his mother Sharmila Tagore and sisters Soha and Saba, recognising their legal claim That decision was successfully appealed against by other royal heirs, who argued succession should follow Muslim Personal Law, not the superseded Bhopal Throne Succession Act
In its 13 December 2024 judgment, the High Court emphasised that the district court had erred by relying on a struck down succession law and failing to consider personal laws and migration-based forfeiture . It quashed the 2000 verdict and directed a full retrial to be completed within a year. The court also instructed the family to appeal before the MHA appellate authority within 30 days, without being penalised for procedural delays. Government records show a notice issued in 2014 by the Custodian of Enemy Property, resulting in a stay in 2015, briefly preserving Saif’s claim that stay was lifted in December 2024, revoking any legal protection and allowing the state to acquire full custodianship. Now, if Saif’s camp fails to file a timely appeal or produce compelling evidence, the government stands to inherit one of India’s most valuable private asset portfolios.
Senior counsel advocating for Saif’s side argues that Sajida Sultan was the lawful heir under constitutional and personal law provisions. But critics say the Enemy Property Act leaves no room for exceptions once any heir migrates to Pakistan. The reversal has intense ramifications for heritage conservation, civic identity and public finance. These palatial structures form part of Bhopal’s architectural fabric and social memory. Government custodianship, if not accompanied by conservation efforts, may risk private heirs’ stewardship traditions and stewardship-sensitive heritage goals.
From an urban cultural lens, the verdict underscores a policy conflict: the balance between inherited urban custodianship by princely lineages and centralised control under statutory law. Green‑city advocates emphasise that repurposing landmark estates should further the agenda of equitable and sustainable urban spaces. Community forums have begun exploring adaptive reuse as museums, cultural centres or eco‑park precincts—ideas now conceivable only if the government assumes control. Meanwhile, Saif’s legal camp is racing against the clock. The High Court issued strict procedural timelines and emphasised the appellate authority must not scrutinise delays. A failure to fully articulate the case within this window could effectively extinguish the familial claim
Public sentiment remains divided. Many view the outcome as legally sound—Abida Sultan’s migration clearly triggered Enemy Property Act provisions. Others lament the loss of cultural legacy, urging a middle path where public custodianship includes community‑centric conservation, respecting the estate’s symbolic value in Bhopal’s heritage narrative. As the retrial begins and potential government repossession awaits, the resolution will not only shape Saif Ali Khan’s heritage prospects but also set a broader precedent in how India reconciles royal inheritance rights, legal frameworks and responsible custodianship of collective urban heritage.
Bhopal Court Rules Saif Ali Khan Estate
