Mukesh Ambani, the man behind the highly successful Reliance Industries and the world’s ninth richest man with a $27-billion fortune is now once again in the spotlight, but this time for all the wrong reasons. Mr. Ambani who resides in what has come to be known to be the world’s first billion dollar home, Antilia, as per reports could be investigated by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The scrutiny of Antilia has come in the wake of a series of allegations in respect to the acquisition of land on which the billion dollar home has been constructed. As per sources, the 4,532 square meter plot of land on Altamount Road in South Mumbai was initially been allocated for the construction of an orphanage for Muslim children. The records indicate that Mukesh Ambani had purchased the land from Currimbhoy Enrahim Khoja Orphanage Trust for $4.88 million and the entire transaction was officially approved by the Mumbai charity commissioner.
The main point of conflict is that though the deal was approved by the charity commissioner, yet it wasn’t cleared through the Maharashtra State Wakf Board, which is in charge of overseeing Wakf land. As per Islamic traditions, Wakf is essentially a piece of land that has been reserved with express intent of constructing structure of religious or charitable significance.
As the petition from the Wakf board is currently pending in the Mumbai high court, the Maharashtra Minority Affairs & Wakf Minister Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan has stated that the matter could in fact be sent over to the CBI for further investigation. Antilia was completed in the year 2010 and ever since has seen its own share of criticism. However, the most expensive home is the world is a magnificent architectural feat in itself featuring a private cinema, a helicopter pad, health club, swimming pools and host of other luxurious amenities.
Via Wall Street Journal & Google News
