Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man and the chairman of Reliance Industries, resides in Antilia, a towering 27-story skyscraper in Mumbai that’s often dubbed the world’s second-most expensive private residence after Buckingham Palace. Valued at over $2 billion, this architectural marvel on Altamount Road has long been a symbol of opulence. But beneath its grandeur lies a contentious question: Whose land was Antilia built on? The story of its origins has sparked debates, legal battles, and allegations of impropriety, making it a topic of intrigue and controversy. Let’s dive into the history, the claims, and the unresolved questions surrounding the land beneath Mukesh Ambani’s iconic home.
The Origins of Antilia’s Land
Antilia stands on a 4,532-square-meter (1.12-acre) plot in South Mumbai’s ultra-exclusive Cumballa Hill area. Before it became the site of this billionaire abode, the land housed the Currimbhoy Ebrahim Khoja Yateemkhana, an orphanage established in 1895 by Currimbhoy Ebrahim, a wealthy shipowner from the Khoja Muslim community. The orphanage was managed by a charitable trust under the oversight of the Maharashtra State Board of Waqfs, a body responsible for administering properties dedicated to Muslim religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law.
In 2002, the trust sought permission to sell the land, citing financial difficulties in maintaining the orphanage. The Charity Commissioner of Maharashtra granted approval within three months, and the plot was sold to Antilia Commercial Private Limited a company controlled by Mukesh Ambani for ₹210.5 million (approximately $2.5 million USD at the time). However, the market value of the land in 2002 was estimated to be at least ₹1.5 billion (around $18 million USD), raising immediate red flags about the transaction’s fairness.
The Waqf Controversy
The sale didn’t go unnoticed. Critics, including the Maharashtra State Board of Waqfs, later alleged that the land was waqf property land dedicated in perpetuity for charitable or religious purposes under Islamic law. According to Section 51 of the Waqf Act, 1995, any sale of waqf land requires prior sanction from the Waqf Board, a step that was reportedly bypassed in this case. The board claimed the transaction was illegal, arguing that the trust had no authority to sell the land without its approval, and that the sale price was a fraction of its true worth.
In 2017, the acting CEO of the Maharashtra State Board of Waqfs filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court, calling the sale a “mischief” orchestrated by the trust’s leadership at the time. The affidavit pointed out that the land, meant for the education and welfare of underprivileged Khoja children, had been improperly transferred to a commercial entity. This sparked a public interest litigation (PIL) and interventions from advocates like Eijaz Naqvi, who challenged the Charity Commissioner’s decision to greenlight the deal.
Adding fuel to the fire, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi reignited the debate in November 2024, claiming during an interview with TV9 that Antilia was unequivocally built on Waqf Board land. “Certainly it is,” he asserted, criticizing the central government’s proposed Waqf Amendment Act, 2024, and suggesting that such reforms could not erase the historical claims of waqf properties.
Mukesh Ambani’s Side of the Story
The Ambani camp has maintained that the purchase was legitimate. After the Waqf Board issued a notice in 2004 questioning the sale, the trust challenged it before a Waqf Tribunal. The matter was settled with an agreement: the trust acknowledged the land’s waqf status, and Antilia Commercial Private Limited paid an additional ₹16 lakh as a contribution to the board under Section 72 of the Waqf Act. Mukesh Ambani also secured a no-objection certificate from the Waqf Board, paving the way for construction to begin in 2006. The building was completed in 2010, with the Ambani family moving in by September 2011 after addressing vastu-related concerns.
Supporters argue that the land’s sale was a pragmatic move by a struggling trust, approved by the Charity Commissioner, and that Ambani paid the price set by the seller. The transaction, they say, followed due process at the time, and subsequent payments addressed the Waqf Board’s concerns. Critics, however, see it as an example of wealth and influence bending rules, pointing to the stark undervaluation and the bypassing of waqf regulations.
A Broader Debate on Waqf Land
The Antilia controversy isn’t an isolated case. It reflects broader tensions over waqf properties in India, where thousands of acres are claimed by Waqf Boards, often leading to disputes with private owners or developers. Some argue that the boards’ retroactive claims like the one on Antilia’s land overstep their authority, especially when properties were legally acquired decades ago. Others contend that waqf laws are being exploited or ignored, allowing prime real estate to slip into private hands at the expense of charitable causes.
In the case of Antilia, the land’s history as an orphanage adds an emotional layer. Once a refuge for underprivileged children, it now supports a residence with three helipads, a 168-car garage, and a snow room amenities that starkly contrast with its original purpose. This juxtaposition has fueled public sentiment, with some on platforms like X questioning the ethics of the deal, while others defend Ambani’s right to purchase property in a free market.
What’s the Status Today?
As of April 2025, the legal status of Antilia’s land remains a gray area. The Bombay High Court has yet to deliver a final ruling on the PIL challenging the sale, and the Waqf Board’s claims linger unresolved. The proposed Waqf Amendment Act, 2024, which aims to tighten oversight and redefine waqf property, could potentially impact such disputes, but its passage is still pending. For now, Antilia stands tall, its shimmering facade a testament to Mukesh Ambani’s wealth and a lightning rod for debate about land, law, and legacy.
Why It Matters
The question of whose land Antilia is built on transcends a single property deal. It’s a story of power, privilege, and the complexities of land ownership in India’s financial capital. For some, it’s a tale of a billionaire snagging a bargain in a city where real estate is gold. For others, it’s a loss of heritage and a betrayal of charitable intent. As Mumbai’s skyline continues to evolve, Antilia remains a towering enigma both a home and a symbol of the unresolved tensions beneath its foundation.
Disclaimer: Information is based on historical records, legal claims, and public statements as of April 05, 2025. The situation may evolve with new developments.
