Nawab’s legacy: A trail of property disputes

BHOPAL: Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi has left behind a trail of property litigation. A Bhopal court decree had finalized a formula to settle the claims eight years back, but it could not be implemented. Also, an old litigation on the actual 'Nawab of Bhopal' is pending before the Madhya Pradesh high court.
In August 2003, additional district judge Jagdish Baheti passed a preliminary decree finalizing a formula to divide the Nawab's property among three siblings - Pataudi and his two sisters, Saliha Sultan and Sabiha Sultan. The decree, based on Shariat, decided that Pataudi would get 50% share and the rest would be divided between his sisters. There is no word yet from the Pataudi family, which includes Sharmila Tagore, actor Saif Ali Khan, Soha and Saba. "In the last eight years, the three (siblings) were unable to reach a compromise. Nor was the matter referred for any arbitration," says Vineet Godha, a counsel of Saliha Sultan.
Pataudi was de facto and de jure administrator and custodian of Bhopal Nawab's property. He was also the legal representative in different courts. He also handled the record of the erstwhile Bhopal state.
"In case of non-availability of records, the property division will become more difficult," says Jagdish Chavani, counsel of Sabiha Sultan, Pataudi's youngest sister. In 2005, Sabiha filed a suit in the district court in Bhopal. This was related to the Flag Staff house, a sprawling property over 10-acre land in Ahmedabad palace area that once housed the secretariat of the erstwhile Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan. In 2008, another suit was filed in a Bhopal court asking Pataudi to clarify the "position" of the Flag Staff house on whether it was sold or not. Hyderabad-based Sabiha had filed a case related to Flag Staff house, but after Pataudi's death, his heirs would be made respondent, says Chavani. "Pataudi's heir would find it difficult to furnish the details in the court and in case of any decision or questioning by the court. Pataudi's heirs would have to come to the court to clarify their position on Flag Staff house," he said. Anwar Khan, a long-time representative of Nawab Pataudi and son of Nawab Hamidullah's ADC, said: "It is in the interest of every one to sit together and sort out the matte. This is the third generation." Then, there is another litigation pending on the actual "Nawab of Bhopal." After the death of Nawab Hamidullah Khan in 1960, her second daughter Sajida Sultan was declared "Bhopal Nawab." Pataudi was the son of Sajida Sultan, whose coronation was challenged in a Bhopal court in two different cases in 1971 and 1974. The case is in the high court.