The Enemy Property Act, established following the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, empowers the government to seize properties owned by individuals who relocated to adversarial nations after the Partition. An amendment in 2017 further clarified that these properties would remain under government jurisdiction, irrespective of any claims of inheritance or changes in citizenship.In a recent ruling, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has lifted a 2015 injunction concerning properties associated with the Pataudi family, categorizing them as “enemy property.” These assets, estimated to be worth around ₹15,000 crore, encompass notable sites such as Noor-Us-Sabah Palace, Flag Staff House, and Dar-Us-Salam. The legal matter involves the heirs of Bhopal’s last Nawab, Hamidullah Khan. His eldest daughter, Abida Sultan, moved to Pakistan in 1950, while his second daughter, Sajida Sultan, remained in India, marrying Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi and becoming the recognized legal heir.
Sajida’s grandson, actor Saif Ali Khan, is a beneficiary of these properties. However, the government contends that Abida Sultan’s relocation renders these assets as “enemy property.”Although the court acknowledged Sajida Sultan as the rightful heir in 2019, the latest ruling has reignited the conflict. The Bhopal administration is currently scrutinizing ownership records that date back 72 years and has suggested that current residents of these properties may be classified as tenants under state leasing regulations. This situation has generated considerable distress among approximately 150,000 residents who have lived on these lands for decades, as many face the looming threat of eviction despite their long-standing tax contributions and residency.