The Supreme Court of India has rejected a legal challenge against the environmental clearance granted for expanding Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s sea-facing bungalow, Mannat, in Mumbai.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant dismissed a petition contesting the Coastal Regulation Zone clearance for building two additional floors on the Bandra property. The court questioned the motives of the petitioner and declined to overturn a previous National Green Tribunal decision upholding the approval.
Supreme Court Questions Petitioner Standing
Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, who joined Chief Justice Kant on the bench, observed that the property is a private residential home. The bench noted that expanding a residence remains the choice of the occupants, provided regulations are generally respected, questioning why external parties should intervene in such personal residential matters.
The legal challenge was brought by activist Santosh Daundkar, represented by senior advocate Shoeb Alam. Alam argued that the court should apply standard legal scrutiny without giving special treatment to the high-profile actor. He also defended his client’s credentials, noting Daundkar’s history as a prominent public interest advocate who previously exposed the Adarsh housing society scandal.
Tribunal Found No Procedural Errors
The Supreme Court’s ruling solidifies a September 16, 2025, order by the National Green Tribunal. The tribunal had dismissed Daundkar’s initial complaint, which accused the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority of improperly approving the renovation of the Bandra residence.
In its decision, the tribunal found no legal flaws or procedural errors in the state coastal authority’s clearance process.
