Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat Under Scrutiny: BMC Investigates Heritage Violations

Shah Rukh Khan's iconic Bandra bungalow, Mannat, is currently under investigation by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Forest Department following a complaint of alleged Coastal Regulation Zone and heritage structure violations.

A joint team from both departments conducted inspections at the Bollywood superstar's sea-facing property on Friday and Saturday, stemming from an RTI complaint filed by Mumbai-based activist Santosh Daundkar.

According to NDTV, the inspections focused on key areas, including potential CRZ breaches, unauthorized changes to the heritage structure, alleged illegal basement construction, and the addition of unapproved floors. Officials took measurements and recorded the current physical status of both the main bungalow and its annex, gathering crucial evidence for their report.

Santosh Daundkar, a known social activist advocating for environmental protection and heritage conservation, is at the core of this probe. He had previously lodged a petition with the National Green Tribunal, alleging that renovation work at Mannat contravened multiple regulations. His primary allegations include the excavation of a six-meter-deep basement and the demolition of two heritage structures without proper environmental clearances, as well as the addition of two unapproved floors to the existing six-storey annex.

Daundkar also raised concerns about the alleged merging of 12 affordable 1-BHK flats into a single luxury residence, and the alleged reclassification of a part of the Mannat plot, originally reserved for an art gallery, without the necessary Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority approval.

The NGT reviewed Daundkar’s petition on March 11, 2025, and requested documentary proof for his allegations within four weeks. While a scheduled NGT hearing took place on April 23, no public order or judgment has been released since. The recent BMC and Forest Department inspection, prompted by Daundkar's RTI complaint, is a direct consequence of these ongoing legal challenges.

The outcome of these inspections could lead to significant repercussions for the property owners. The BMC's findings are expected to be compiled and shared with Daundkar and relevant government bodies, including the BMC itself and the CRZ authority.

If violations are confirmed, the BMC or MCZMA could initiate corrective or penal action, potentially requiring the reversal of unauthorized changes, imposition of fines, or even demolition of illegal construction if breaches of coastal laws or heritage norms are proven. New evidence could also prompt further legal action from the NGT, including stop-work orders.