The Supreme Court of India has brought a definitive end to a long-standing legal challenge regarding the renovation and expansion of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic Mumbai residence, Mannat. In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant dismissed an appeal that sought to challenge the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance granted for the addition of two floors to the actor’s sea-facing bungalow.
The bench, which also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, refused to interfere with a previous order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that had already rejected the challenge. The appeal had been filed by Mumbai-based activist Santosh Daundkar, who alleged various procedural violations in the approvals granted for the construction.
During the proceedings, Chief Justice Surya Kant and the bench expressed skepticism regarding the petitioner’s bona fides. The Court observed that the expansion was for a residential property and that the authorities had found substantial compliance with the law.
“They are living there in Mannat. If in a residential house they want to have (additional floors)… it’s their choice. Law is broadly followed. Why should a neighbour or anybody else intervene?” the Chief Justice remarked during the hearing.
Appearing for the appellant, Senior Advocate Shoeb Alam argued that the matter should not be viewed differently simply because it involved a prominent film star. He emphasized the petitioner’s past record, including his role in exposing the Adarsh housing scam, to assert that the challenge was brought in good faith.
The bench, however, firmly dismissed the suggestion that the respondent’s celebrity status played any role in their judicial consideration. “We are in no way influenced by all of this,” Justice Joymalya Bagchi stated.
The legal challenge targeted the CRZ clearance dated January 3, 2025, issued by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA). The petition had raised a wide array of allegations, including claims that the property had historic CRZ violations, that heritage structures were demolished without proper environmental clearance, and that the project site was incorrectly categorized.
The National Green Tribunal had previously scrutinized these contentions and concluded that no illegality existed in the grant of the fresh clearance. The NGT noted that the project was confined to the addition of residential floors on an existing structure and did not involve horizontal expansion into restricted zones. The tribunal further affirmed that the property is situated in a residential zone under the city’s Development Plan 2034 and holds valid environmental certifications.
With the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the appeal, the regulatory clearance for the additional floors at Mannat remains firmly in place, affirming the findings of the National Green Tribunal.
