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BHOPAL: A local court in Bhopal dismissed a civil suit challenging ownership of a 16.62-acre parcel of prime land once linked to the erstwhile Bhopal royal family, ruling in favour of actor Saif Ali Khan, Sharmila Tagore, Soha Ali Khan and other legal heirs of the royal family, who were respondents in the case. The dispute related to land in Nayapura area of Huzur tehsil, where three residents claimed ownership. They argued the property was gifted to their father, late Vakil Ahmed, by the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan, in 1936 as a reward for services rendered by him and his ancestors during the princely era. The plaintiffs relied on entries in old revenue records and claimed continuous possession of the land, including construction of rooms, engagement of caretakers and allotment of small portions to others for residence and upkeep. However, in its order last week, court rejected the claims on multiple grounds. It held the plaintiffs failed to conclusively prove the alleged inayat (gift). It also found that the disputed land formed part of the personal property of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi as mentioned in Bhopal merger agreement signed with govt of India in 1949. Court records showed following a family partition, 12.62 acres of the land were sold to a builder in 1998 by Pataudi and his family, preceded filing of the present suit.
