Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and his family face a significant legal challenge as the Madhya Pradesh High Court has overturned a 25-year-old decision that affirmed their claim to ancestral property valued at approximately Rs 15,000 crores. The court has mandated a fresh trial in the long-standing inheritance dispute involving the former royal family of Bhopal.
The property at the center of the dispute dates back to the princely state of Bhopal and was inherited by Saif Ali Khan, his mother Sharmila Tagore, and his sisters Soha and Saba Ali Khan, following the death of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the former Indian cricket captain and Nawab of Pataudi.
Court Sets Aside 2000 Decree
In 2000, a Bhopal district court ruled that the Pataudi family were the rightful heirs to the estate, based on the succession of Saif’s grandmother, Sajida Sultan, the daughter of the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan. However, Justice Sanjay Dwivedi of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has now overturned this decision, citing reliance on a precedent that the Supreme Court has since overruled.
“I am of the opinion that the trial court, without considering other aspects of the matter, had dismissed the suits, that too relying upon the judgment which has already been overruled by the Supreme Court,” Justice Dwivedi stated in the order. “Thus, in my opinion, the impugned judgment and decree deserve to be and are hereby set aside.”
The High Court has instructed the trial court to conduct a new examination of the case, allowing all parties to present fresh evidence in light of recent legal developments. The court has emphasized that the fresh trial should be conducted expeditiously, ideally within one year.
Background of the Dispute
The legal battle originates from the inheritance of the personal property of Nawab Hamidullah Khan, the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal, who had three daughters: Abida, Sajida, and Rabia. Sajida Sultan, who married Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, was declared the heir to the estate after her sister Abida migrated to Pakistan. The succession was formalized in 1962 when the Government of India issued a certificate naming Sajida as the sole inheritor.
Sajida’s son, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, inherited the property, which was subsequently passed down to Saif, Soha, and Saba. However, other heirs of the Nawab — including Begum Suraiya Rashid and Nawab Mehr Taj Sajida Sultan — contested the inheritance, arguing that the partition of Nawab Hamidullah’s property was inequitable and did not adhere to Muslim Personal Law.
Their suit, initially dismissed in 2000, has now been revived by the High Court. The order also referenced the 1949 Instrument of Accession through which the princely state of Bhopal merged with the Union of India. According to the agreement, the Nawab retained rights to personal properties, and succession was to follow the Bhopal Succession to the Throne Act, 1947.
Implications and Future Proceedings
This development represents a significant turn in the legal saga that has spanned decades. Legal experts suggest that the fresh trial could potentially alter the distribution of the vast estate, depending on new evidence and interpretations of succession laws.
Meanwhile, the Pataudi family, known for their contributions to Indian cinema and sports, faces a renewed legal battle that could have implications for their financial and social standing. The case also highlights the complexities involved in inheritance disputes, particularly those involving erstwhile royal families and significant assets.
As the trial court prepares to re-examine the case, all eyes will be on the proceedings, which promise to be closely watched by legal experts and the public alike. The outcome could set a precedent for similar cases involving royal inheritances and succession laws in India.
