MP High Court appoints arbitrator for Pataudi's cases

The Madhya Pradesh High Court today appointed a retired district Judge as arbitrator to resolve cases related to two properties of the late cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi whose family is pursuing the matter.
The cases are being pursued by Pataudi's actress-wife Sharmila Tagore and actor-son Saif Ali Khan who have made a claim of Rs 105 crore from two private firms for damage they allegedly caused to the properties.
Justice Alok Aradhe appointed retired Bhopal district Judge Renu Sharma as the arbitrator, while allowing the two pleas of Pataudi filed in 2009.
The ex-Indian cricket team captain, who died in 2011, had sought arbitration to claim monetary compensation for damage caused to his twin properties in Raisen district allegedly by Lod Hotels Pvt Ltd and Firdous Agro Industries Pvt Ltd.

The properties in question are Chiklod Kothi complex, situated in village Chiklod Kalan, and Firdous Farms, both in Raisen district.
According to the case details, on May 3, 1981, erstwhile ruler of Bhopal Mehr Taj Sajida Sultan Begum, the mother of Pataudi, entered into maintenance agreements with Lod Hotels and Firdous Agro through its Managing Director Suresh Bafna, a resident of Mumbai.

Sultan Begum was the sole successor of the properties of the last Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidulla Khan.
"The private firms caused substantial damage to the super structure of the Chiklod Kothi complex and Firdous Farms, the Pataudis' counsel Rajesh Pancholi told the court.

Various taxes and duties related to the properties were also not paid. Due to this, government authorities initiated recovery proceedings by way of attachment of properties that caused embarrassment and loss to the reputation of the applicant, he said.