
Saif Ali Khan's Family Seeks Extension in Appeal Against Government Order on Ancestral Properties
Following the recent stabbing incident at his Bandra residence, Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan and his family are seeking an extension in their appeal against the government order on their ancestral properties. Advocate Jagdish Chhavani believes that the attack on Saif Ali Khan constitutes an exigency that justifies an extension.
The properties, valued at ₹15,000 crore, were declared as "Enemy Property" because Nawab Muhammad Hamidullah Khan's eldest daughter, Abida Sultan Begum, migrated to Pakistan after Partition. The Madhya Pradesh High Court had provided an option to appeal against this order by December 13, 2024.
Saif Ali Khan's family, including his mother Sharmila Tagore, had challenged the 2015 order, arguing that the properties should have been transferred to Sajida Sultan Begum, the second daughter who stayed in India. The issue has been contested in court since 2015, and the recent directive suggested the family could file a representation within 30 days to challenge the order.
The Enemy Property Act, initially passed after the India-Pakistan war of 1965, was strengthened in 2017 to prevent inheritance of such properties by legal heirs, even if they are Indian citizens. Critics argue that this infringes on property rights, while supporters see it as necessary for national security.
The act ensures that properties designated as enemy assets remain with the Custodian of Enemy Property for India. Similar cases, like that of the Raja of Mahmudabad, have been contentious, with court rulings initially favouring heirs but later overturned by legislative amendments.
The properties, both movable and immovable, are either auctioned or sold, with proceeds going to the Consolidated Fund of India. The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Act of 2017 reinforced the government's control over these assets, nullifying inheritance claims.