Saif Ali Khan Loses Rs 15,000 Crore Bhopal Estate in Landmark Enemy Property Case:

Saif Ali Khan Loses Rs 15,000 Crore Bhopal Estate in Landmark Enemy Property Case Bollywood's famous actor Saif Ali Khan has lost a dispute to get back his ancestor's old properties in Bhopal, which are worth around Rs 15,000 crore. Earlier, the actor filed an appeal against the decision of the government to call the property "enemy property" under the Enemy Property Act; however, the court quashed his plea challenging the government’s decision. Previously, in 2000, a trial court ruled that Saif, his mother Sharmila Tagore, and his sisters Soha and Saba Ali Khan are the legal heirs of the property. However, the initial judgement was challenged by Nawab Hamidullah Khan's other descendants, saying that the inheritance should follow the Muslim Personal Law. The controversy started when Saif’s great-grandmother, Abida Sultan, moved to Pakistan after India’s Partition and gave up her Indian citizenship. Because of this, the Indian government took over the property under the Enemy Property Act. The law was implemented in 1968 that says if the properties are left behind in India by the individuals who migrated to some enemy country (such as Pakistan or China), then these properties are designated as "enemy property" and come under the control of the Indian government. In the year 2014, the Bhopal royal family's assets were officially declared as enemy property by the Custodian of Enemy Property. Then the Saif challenged this classification in the court and received a temporary stay in 2015. However, his petition was quashed by the court on December 13, 2024, and the stay was lifted. Still, Saif and his family were granted 30 days of time to raise an appeal to the appellate tribunal. However, no appeal was filed, hence permitting the government to legally take over control of the property. The High Court has now told the trial court to proceed with its work and give its decision within one year. This could change how the Bhopal royal family’s inheritance is handled. This case is one of India’s biggest royal property disputes and brings attention to how the Enemy Property Act affects families with roots before Partition. The local government in Bhopal will soon start taking control of the estate.