Land for Mukesh Ambani's skyscraper is 'illegal'

DREAM-LAND: Maharashtra govt has asked state Wakf Board to take back Mukesh Ambani's land plot.

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Keywords: Skyscraper, Mumbai

Mumbai: Mukesh Ambani’s multi storeyed mansion in Mumbai has been declared as illegal by the Maharashtra government after it received complaints that the WAKF board did not have the rights to sell the land for the building.

The final nail in the coffin – the letter by the Maharashtra revenue Secretary clearly says that this palatial mansion under construction in Mumbai's Malabar hill is illegal.

That's because the building called Antilia meant to be home to India's richest man Mukesh Ambani stands on a 4500 sq metre plot that was acquired from the WAKF board.

And it's the sale of the plot of land that's being questioned. The Maharashtra government now wants the WAKF Board to re-possess of this piece of land, which originally belonged to Currimbhoy Orphanage trust.

MoS of Maharashtra Hasan Mushrif says, “We are looking into the matter and soon will come up with results.”

But the Chairman of the WAKF board says that this notification by the government is motivated and does not hold any ground.

Chairman Maharashtra WAKF Board Dr MA Azmi says, “The minister is doing this out of revenge. Why did they not question it before?"

But the government says it isn't singling out Ambani and has in fact raised questions about other land deals as well including a 26 acre plot in Nanded, a 10 acre piece of land in Khej in Beed district and a 24 hectare plot at Satara village in Aurangabad district.

And even while Mukesh Ambani has kept mum over the entire controversy sources say the Ambani camp along with the WAKF board is now preparing to challenge government order in the court.

But until then Antilia, the future Ambani home, will live upto its mythological name of being a "phantom Island".