NGT asks activist to submit proof of violations in Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat renovation

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed social activist Santosh Daundkar to provide evidence of alleged violations by Shah Rukh Khan or the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) in securing Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the renovation of the actor's iconic Bandra home, Mannat. [Santosh Daundkar v. The Secretary, MoEF&CC & Ors].The same must be provided within four weeks, or Daundkar's appeal challenging the CRZ clearance will be dismissed, the western zone bench of the NGT said in its order. "If any violation of the above procedure has been committed by the Project Proponent or the MCZMA, the same may be submitted by the appellant specifically along with the evidence in support of that, within four weeks, failing which we would be left with no option but to dismiss the present appeal for non-compliance of the order of this Tribunal, at the stage of admission itself," a coram of Judicial Member Dinesh Kumar Singh and Expert Member Vijay Kulkarni said..Daundkar’s appeal had questioned the legality of the CRZ clearance granted for Khan’s plan to add two additional floors to the existing six-storey mansion.In the appeal, he raised concerns about several alleged violations, including the claim that Khan's actions are part of a history of CRZ violations, arguing that "a fresh CRZ clearance could not have been granted" until these earlier violations were rectified. .The appeal claims that Khan demolished two "heritage structures" without obtaining mandatory prior environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), which Daundkar contends was required under CRZ regulations. Daundkar further argues that "the entire plot under reference was reserved for an Art Gallery in the statutory Development Plan, which has been got deleted without any mandatory permission of the MCZMA." The appeal also says that the actor constructed a "Ground + 6 storied building without mandatory permission from the MCZMA.".Another key concern raised in the appeal involves the construction of a deep basement, which Daundkar claims is about six meters below the ground level. He argues that this construction involved the illegal extraction of "substantial minor minerals and groundwater," both of which are prohibited activities under CRZ regulations.Additionally, the appeal points out that Khan allegedly committed fraud by constructing "12 number of 1-Bedroom-Hall-Kitchen flats for mass housing" and later merging them into a luxury single-family residence. This, Daundkar argues, violates the provisions of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976..The Tribunal noted that the alleged violations cited by Daundkar occurred between 2000 and 2006, while the CRZ clearance in question was granted in January 2025.It further found that the grounds for challenging the CRZ clearance were not entirely convincing. The CRZ clearance, granted on January 3, 2025, appeared to follow the guidelines outlined in the CRZ Notification of 2019, the order stated.Subsequently, it directed Daundkar to provide specific evidence within four weeks to support his allegations, cautioning that failure to do so would result in dismissal of the appeal.The NGT will hear the matter next on April 23..Advocate Aditya Pratap appeared for Daundkar..[Read Order]