Bhopal: Claims and counter claims on 5000 acres of land owned by the Bhopal Nawab family have been further complicated by the state government jumping into the fray. So, not only 35,000 families but also the state government are staking claim to the land that the Nawab family claims to be their own property.

The Nawab, at the time of merger to the Union on 30 April 1948 retained certain personal assets and land to maintain family dignity. This disputed 5000 acres of land was not shown in the agreement hence the state government claims that the Nawab family do not hold any property right to it. Interestingly, even the state government itself was ignorant about this for the past 60 years. Deepesh Joshi lawyer for late Pataudi’s family pointed out that Sajida Begum personally owned the property It was gifted to her by her in-laws and was not a part of the Bhopal estate. Because of this reason it was not mentioned in the agreement.

A writ filed by Anup Kumar Daya Ramani in the High Court in 2001 brought the anomaly to public knowledge. An application against a housing society in the court resulted in a directive to check revenue records. The revenue department unearthed a lot of irregularities.

In 2007 the state took suo-motto action against the Pataudi family’s claim to the land as state property. District collector complicated the matter further by suggesting that all the families residing on the land should also be made a party. Thus there are three parties now – the residents on the land, the state government and the Pataudi heirs – Sharmila Tagore, Saif Ali, Saliha and Saba.  Meanwhile, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the state C.M., has assured the residents that nobody would be made homeless. According to the latest report the S.C. has allowed the state to be a party in a case concerning Holkar estate too.