A court in Bhopal has delivered a significant verdict, dismissing a long-standing civil suit and upholding the ownership rights of actor Saif Ali Khan, his mother Sharmila Tagore, sister Soha Ali Khan, and other legal heirs of the Pataudi family over a valuable piece of land in the city. The suit, which challenged their title to a 16.62-acre parcel in Nayapura, was rejected by the court, which found the claims of the plaintiffs unsubstantiated.
The Core of the Land Dispute
The legal battle revolved around a prime 16.62-acre plot located in the Nayapura area of Huzur tehsil in Bhopal. Three residents had filed the suit, asserting that the property rightfully belonged to them. Their claim was based on the argument that the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan, had gifted the land to their father, the late Vakil Ahmed, way back in 1936. They stated this was a reward for services rendered by him and his ancestors during the princely era.
The plaintiffs leaned heavily on entries in old revenue records to support their case. They also claimed to have been in continuous possession of the land, citing activities like constructing rooms, engaging caretakers, and even allotting small portions to others for residence and upkeep as proof of their ownership.
Court's Grounds for Dismissal
However, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Sanjay Agarwal found the plaintiffs' evidence lacking on multiple critical fronts. The judge stated that the plaintiffs had "completely failed" to prove their claim for a permanent injunction against the Pataudi family members.
Firstly, the court held that the plaintiffs could not conclusively prove the alleged inayat (gift) by Nawab Hamidullah Khan. More decisively, the court examined historical records and found that the disputed land was clearly part of the personal property of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (Saif Ali Khan's father). This ownership was explicitly mentioned in the Bhopal merger agreement signed with the Government of India in 1949.
Furthermore, court records revealed a crucial transaction: following a family partition, 12.62 acres of the land were sold to a builder in 1998 by Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and his family. This sale occurred well before the present suit was even filed. The court observed that the plaintiffs failed to establish any lawful possession or ownership that would entitle them to seek a permanent injunction against the defendants.
Verdict and Implications
By rejecting the plaint filed by Vakil Ahmed's sons, the court has firmly settled the ownership in favour of the Pataudi family heirs. The ruling underscores the importance of documented historical records and legal agreements in property disputes, especially those tracing back to the pre-Independence era. For Saif Ali Khan, Sharmila Tagore, and Soha Ali Khan, this judgment represents a conclusive legal victory, putting to rest a challenge over a significant family asset in Bhopal.
