Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has been involved in the 'enemy property' case since the Pataudi family's Bhopal properties were declared enemy property. The government claims the property was designated due to Abida Sultan's 1950 migration to Pakistan. The government manages 13,252 enemy properties valued over Rs1 lakh crore.
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Saif Ali Khan, a Bollywood actor, has been involved in the 'enemy property' case since 2014 when the Pataudi family's properties in Bhopal were declared enemy property.
Enemy properties are assets left behind in India by individuals who migrated to countries considered "enemy nations" during times of conflict, particularly following wars between India and Pakistan (1965 and 1971) and the Sino-Indian War (1962).
The Act allows the Indian government to take control of properties left behind by individuals who migrated to enemy nations. It states that these properties remain permanently with the Custodian of Enemy Property, and no one, including legal heirs, can inherit or transfer them.
The 2017 amendment expanded the definition of "enemy subject" and "enemy firm," including legal heirs and successors. It reinforced that enemy properties remain under government control, even if the original owner is deceased or their business is closed, regardless of the heir's nationality.
Saif Ali Khan CaseIn 2014, the Custodian of Enemy Property Department declared the Pataudi family’s properties in Bhopal as enemy property. Saif Ali Khan, the grandson of Sajida Sultan, who had inherited a share of the properties, challenged this notice in court, arguing his right to the properties. The government claimed the properties were designated as enemy property due to the migration of Abida Sultan (Saif Ali Khan's great aunt) to Pakistan in 1950. The migration of a family member to an enemy nation led to the assets being classified as enemy property. |
In one case, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the son of the Raja of Mahmudabad, who sought ownership of his father’s enemy property. However, after the 2017 amendment, the government clarified that enemy properties would remain with the Custodian, overriding prior court rulings.
The government disposes of enemy properties through a detailed process outlined in the Guidelines for the Disposal of Enemy Property, 2018.
Vacant properties may be auctioned, and occupied properties may be offered to the current occupants. Movable properties like shares are sold through public auctions or tenders.
According to the data from the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI) there are 13,252 enemy properties in India, valued at over Rs1 lakh crore.
Uttar Pradesh (5,982) has the highest number of enemy properties, followed by West Bengal (4,354). Most of the enemy properties belong to people who migrated to Pakistan, and over 100 to those who migrated to China.
The Custodian of Enemy Property for India manages these assets on behalf of the government. Properties are valued by district magistrates, and a committee decides whether to sell, transfer, or maintain them. The proceeds from sales are deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India.
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