Will Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani Vacate their Rs 15000 crore luxurious residence Antilia due to…, Politician claims…
New Delhi: Mumbai has some of the most luxurious and super expensive homes in the world, with Mukesh Ambani’s Antilia standing out as one of the most iconic. Located on Mumbai’s Altamount Road, the 27-floor skyscraper ‘Antilia’ is the residence of Mukesh Ambani , the chairman of Reliance Industries and one of the richest humans on Earth. Reportedly worth Rs 15000 crore, the Mumbai-located residence is once again in the news, not because of its luxurious features or high-profile owners but due to a historic property dispute.
The Waqf Amendment Bill was recently passed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and was later approved by the President of India. However, the news that grabbed most of the headlines was the allegation that Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani’s Antilia is built on Waqf board land.
Antilia stands on a Waqf property?
The land on which India’s most expensive house stands has a history that is as dramatic as any courtroom thriller. Originally, it wasn’t meant for luxury at all—it was intended for charity. According to several reports, back in 1895, a wealthy shipowner named Kareem Bhai Ibrahim donated the land to establish an orphanage called the Currimbhoy Ebrahim Khoja Yateemkhana.
The orphanage was set up to offer shelter and education to orphaned children, with a strong emphasis on religious and moral values. However, by 1986, the land was reportedly transferred to a trust under the Waqf Board, a charitable institution responsible for managing Muslim religious endowments. The land, thus, was meant to benefit the public by housing orphaned children and providing them with education.
In 2002, the Waqf Board decided to sell the land. But here’s where things get murky. The land, once valued at approximately USD 18 million, was sold to a commercial entity associated with Mukesh Ambani’s family for just USD 2.5 million.
The Waqf Board, along with several local politicians, initially opposed the sale, arguing that the land should not be sold to a private party, especially at such a low price. But despite these objections, the sale was eventually approved, and the construction of Antilia began.
Here are some of the key features of Antilia:
- Three helipads (because landing one helicopter is just so limiting).
- A garage big enough for 168 cars.
- A snow room that literally simulates snowfall in humid Mumbai.
- A private 50-seat cinema.
- A salon, a spa, a yoga studio, and multiple swimming pools.
- And, yes, an ice cream parlour.
Designed by American firm Perkins & Will and built by Leighton Asia, Antilia also has eco-conscious features and is engineered to withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of 8.0.
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