Snehashish roy
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition challenging the renovation and expansion of Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic Mumbai residence, Mannat, bringing an end to the latest legal hurdle surrounding the project. The apex court refused to interfere with an earlier National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that had upheld the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance granted for the renovation, allowing the project to proceed.
The petition had questioned the environmental approvals granted for the renovation and expansion of the sea-facing Bandra bungalow. The petitioner alleged that the statutory permissions required for the project had not been obtained in accordance with environmental regulations and argued that additional approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) was necessary because of the project’s estimated cost.
During the hearing, however, the Supreme Court declined to entertain the plea. The bench observed that homeowners are entitled to renovate or modify their properties as long as they comply with the applicable laws and regulations. The court also questioned the intent behind the petition and refused the request to send the matter back to the National Green Tribunal for reconsideration. It emphasised that the case was being decided on legal merits and was not influenced by Shah Rukh Khan’sShah Rukh Khan’s celebrity status.
The ruling effectively upholds the National Green Tribunal’s decision delivered last year. The NGT had dismissed an appeal filed by social activist Santosh Daundkar, who had challenged the CRZ clearance issued by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA). The tribunal had concluded that the renovation proposal complied with environmental regulations and that the required permissions had been granted under the applicable rules.
The dispute centred on plans to expand Mannat by adding two additional floors to its annex building. According to the approved proposal submitted by Gauri Khan, the renovation includes constructing the seventh and eighth floors, connected through an internal staircase to create a duplex residential space. Once completed, the annex building will comprise two basement levels, a ground floor and eight upper floors.
The renovation project has remained in the spotlight ever since it received regulatory approvals. Mannat, one of Mumbai’s most recognisable landmarks, is a Grade II-B heritage structure located in Bandra’s Bandstand area. Shah Rukh Khan purchased the property in 2001, and it has since become a major attraction for fans, who regularly gather outside the residence hoping to catch a glimpse of the actor.
To facilitate the renovation work, Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan and their children temporarily shifted to a luxury apartment in Mumbai’s Pali Hill earlier this year. Reports indicated that the family is expected to remain there until the renovation is completed, with the work likely to continue for an extended period.
The legal challenge had also prompted inspections by civic and environmental authorities following allegations of CRZ violations. However, both the NGT and now the Supreme Court have declined to interfere with the approvals already granted for the project, effectively clearing the way for construction to continue.
With the Supreme Court dismissing the petition, Shah Rukh Khan has secured another legal victory in the long-running dispute over the renovation of Mannat. The ruling removes the final major legal obstacle to the expansion project, allowing work on one of Mumbai’s most famous celebrity residences to proceed in accordance with the approvals already granted by the concerned authorities.