The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition challenging the approval granted for the renovation and expansion of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and wife Gauri Khan’s iconic seaside residence, Mannat, in Mumbai’s Bandra. The court observed that homeowners are free to renovate their properties, provided they comply with the law.
According to NDTV, the petition was filed by a Mumbai resident, who alleged that the project failed to obtain the required statutory approvals and did not comply with environmental regulations. Senior advocate Shoaib Alam, appearing for the petitioner, argued that approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) was mandatory, claiming it is a prerequisite for projects valued at more than Rs 5 crore. He also alleged that the violations continued.
During the hearing, the bench questioned the petitioner’s intent. Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that Mannat is a private residence and said its owners are entitled to renovate the property as long as they follow the law. The petitioner’s request to send the matter back to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was also rejected.
The Supreme Court further clarified that its decision was not influenced by the celebrity status or popularity of the property’s owners.
The NGT had earlier dismissed an appeal challenging the environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances granted for the renovation and expansion of Mannat. In its order, the tribunal said the project complied with environmental regulations and that all necessary approvals had been issued in accordance with the law.
Social activist Santosh Daundkar filed the appeal before the NGT in March 2025. The petition challenged the CRZ clearance issued by the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) on 3 January, alleging that the approval process for the expansion did not adequately follow environmental norms.
Those associated with the project, however, maintained that all required permissions had been obtained in accordance with the rules.
The controversy centred on Gauri Khan’s proposal to add two additional floors to Mannat’s existing six-storey annex building. With the Supreme Court now dismissing the challenge, the renovation and expansion project can proceed.
