The Bombay High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Wakf board to clarify its stand on the land on which Mukesh Ambani’s house Antilia stands.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a plea filed by Abdul Mateen, a resident of Jalna. Mr. Mateen alleged mismanagement by the Wakf board in its sale of properties. The court was informed that the issue had been heard by the Supreme Court. The court inquired about the matter and adjourned the case after issuing a notice to the board.
Senior counsel Milind Sathe told the court that the land belonged to Currimbhoy Ebrahim Khoja Orphanage Trust. As the body is a secular trust, it is registered with the Charity Commissioner and does not come under the Wakf board.
Last year, the High Court dismissed another petition that alleged that the State Wakf property at South Mumbai was transferred to Antilia Commercial Private Limited at 10% of market value. The petitioner was directed to pay ₹10,000.
That petition stated that the orphanage came into existence in June 1996 and was registered in November 1952 under the Bombay Public Trust Act. The space provided was meant to provide education to orphans and destitute children of the Khoja community.
The plea stated that the trust without clarifying the reason for the formation of the orphanage executed the sale deed in November 2002 in favour of the Antilia Commercial Private Limited for a consideration of ₹21 crore and five lakh.
