Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Challenging Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Mannat’ Renovation Approvals

The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition filed by a Mumbai resident that challenged the statutory and environmental approvals granted for the renovation and expansion of Mannat, the iconic Bandra bungalow owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and interior designer Gauri Khan.

According to a report by NDTV India, the apex court bench observed that homeowners are legally entitled to modify or renovate their private properties as long as they operate within the framework of existing municipal and environmental laws.

Arguments and Environmental Clearances

The legal challenge centered around an expansion proposal spearheaded by Gauri Khan to add two additional floors to an existing six-story annex building located on the Mannat premises.

The Petitioner’s Stance: Senior counsel Shoaib Alam, representing the petitioner, argued that the ongoing construction violated coastal regulations and lacked necessary clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change an approval he claimed is mandatory for residential projects exceeding a budget of ₹5 crore.

The Bench’s Observation: Chief Justice Surya Kant questioned the underlying intent of the petition, reiterating that a person’s celebrity status has no bearing on judicial evaluation. The court declined the counsel’s fallback request to refer the matter back to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Preceding National Green Tribunal (NGT) Ruling

The Supreme Court’s dismissal effectively upholds a prior ruling by the National Green Tribunal, which had already vetted and cleared the property’s paperwork.

The timeline of the legal challenge includes:

January 3, 2025: The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority officially issues the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the expansion.

March 2025: Social activist Santosh Daundkar files an appeal before the NGT, alleging that the project bypassed critical environmental norms.

The NGT Verdict: The tribunal ultimately rejected the appeal, ruling that the expansion project complied fully with prevailing environmental regulations and allowing the construction to proceed.

With the Supreme Court now firmly declining to entertain any further challenges against the construction approvals, the expansion of the high-profile Bandra landmark faces no remaining legal hurdles.