- Monday, April 07, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani is back in the headlines, not for his billion-dollar deals or grand weddings, but due to a decades-old land ownership controversy involving his luxurious 27-storey mansion, Antilia, located on Mumbai’s upscale Altamount Road. Estimated to be worth $1.8 billion (Rs 15,000 crore), Antilia has once again come under legal and political scrutiny as the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 awaits presidential assent.
The discussion has resurfaced whether the land on which Antilia stands was originally Waqf property, i.e., land dedicated for religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law. Built between 2006 and 2010 and designed by the Chicago-based architectural firm Perkins and Will, Antilia is currently home to Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, and their family. The extravagant residence includes a private cinema, temple, gym, spa, terrace garden, swimming pool, medical facilities, and a helipad.
The controversy gained momentum as the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, aimed at improving the management and digital registration of Waqf properties, passed both Houses of Parliament. The Lok Sabha approved it on Wednesday night, followed by a heated Rajya Sabha discussion and clearance early Friday. The legislation, revised by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, seeks to modernize the Waqf Act of 1995. With public attention shifting to the Bill, renewed questions have emerged about how Ambani acquired the plot.
Old videos of AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have resurfaced on social media, where both allege that the land belonged to the Waqf Board. Many curious internet users even turned to AI tools like Grok, which stated that the land was once owned by an orphanage and had been sold in 2002.
A Dainik Bhaskar report, quoted by Oneindia Hindi, adds further depth to the dispute. It claimed that over a decade ago, the Maharashtra Waqf Board raised objections to the land sale. According to the report, the sale of the 4,532 square metre plot to Ambani for Rs 21.5 crore in 2002 violated proper legal procedures. “The Waqf Board should have approved the land sale with a two-thirds majority vote. However, no official meeting took place,” the report stated. It also questioned the involvement of the Charity Commissioner, pointing out that only the Waqf Board was authorized to give such approval.
Back in 1986, Kareem Bhai Ibrahim had reportedly donated the land to the Waqf Board for building an orphanage and a madrasa (religious school). Later, the land was sold, eventually making its way to Mukesh Ambani. As per a Maharashtra Assembly statement, “Waqf land cannot be sold for private use.” Despite this, no decisive legal outcome has emerged, and the case remains tied up in court.
Interestingly, the matter had drawn the attention of Devendra Fadnavis, then Maharashtra Chief Minister, who stated that his government would “act based on the report’s findings.” Currently, suggestions are being made that the Waqf Board and the Kareem Bhai Trust resolve the issue amicably.
This is not the first time land disputes involving the Waqf Board have made headlines in India. In 1950, the Board reportedly controlled about 52,000 acres of land. Fast forward to 2025, and the figure has skyrocketed to over 9.4 lakh acres, making it one of the largest land-owning entities in the country.
As public and political attention converges on the Waqf Amendment Bill, the status of Antilia’s land has become symbolic of broader issues surrounding real estate regulation, religious endowments, and transparency. While Mukesh Ambani’s home remains a modern marvel and a status symbol, the legal questions surrounding its foundation refuse to go away.
