Mumbai, India – The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed an activist to present concrete evidence supporting allegations of environmental violations concerning renovations at Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s residence, ‘Mannat,’ located in Mumbai’s Bandra area. This directive comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the property for potential breaches of environmental regulations.
Background of the Allegations
Concerns regarding ‘Mannat’s’ compliance with Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms date back to 2012. Activist Amit Maru had alleged that the construction of a seven-storey annex lacked the necessary environmental clearances, potentially violating CRZ guidelines.
In November 2011, the Mumbai Pollution Control Board (MPCB) conducted an inspection and noted that ‘Mannat’ was situated in a CRZ-designated area. At that time, officials observed that certain required environmental clearances were not presented.
Past Issues and BMC Action
In 2015, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) identified an illegal ramp outside ‘Mannat,’ constructed without proper authorization and allegedly encroaching on public land. The ramp was reportedly used for parking Shah Rukh Khan’s vanity van. Following this, the BMC ordered its demolition.
After the structure’s removal, Shah Rukh Khan was fined ₹1.93 lakh to cover the demolition expenses, which he duly paid.
NGT’s Directive
The NGT’s recent directive highlights the necessity of substantiating allegations with concrete evidence before legal action can be taken. The tribunal has emphasized that all claims must be backed by verifiable proof to ensure environmental oversight is conducted fairly and transparently.
As the case progresses, attention is now focused on the activist’s submission, which will play a key role in determining further investigative or remedial measures concerning ‘Mannat’s’ renovations.
About Author
Kusha Mehta is a law student at Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, with a background in economics. She has experience in legal research, writing, and analysis, Passionate about advocacy and policy, she has also completed online certifications from Harvard University. She has authored two research articles namely, Mustard Dhara – An exploration of legal and regulatory aspects in the agricultural sector and Surrogacy in India: Comparative Analysis with Global Legal Trends (coauthored with Akshita Garg) – Published in IJLLR.
