Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has colored his career with numerous iconic and blockbuster films. He is considered one of the most significant brands in bringing Indian cinema to the global stage and is also adored by people from all walks of life as an ideal icon.
When such a star faces an error, it’s only natural that everyone would want to resolve it. In a similar vein, the Indian government has set an example by rectifying a mistake made in the ownership transfer of Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic sea-facing mansion, Mannat, located in Mumbai. The Maharashtra government has decided to refund ₹9 crore to the actor due to a calculation error related to the transfer of ownership of the property.
In 2019, the Mumbai Suburban Collectorate made a mistake while converting Mannat’s leasehold to full ownership. This led to the Bollywood romantic king, Shah Rukh Khan, receiving a refund of the overcharged amount.
In 2001, Khan had taken the Grade 3 heritage bungalow on a 99-year lease from the Khorshed Bhanu Sanjana Trust. Due to heritage laws, no structural changes were allowed to the building. However, Shah Rukh Khan constructed a multi-storey annex behind the bungalow, which has now become his family’s primary residence. Several rules and regulations had to be followed to carry out this construction.
According to Hindustan Times, since the property is located on collector’s land in Mumbai, a tax known as ‘unearned income’ is levied, which depends on the difference between the market price and the ready reckoner price. In 2019, the Khans converted the property’s ownership from leasehold (Class 2) to freehold (Class 1) and paid a premium of ₹27.5 crore. However, the authorities mistakenly calculated the premium based on the total construction cost rather than just the value of the land, which led to an overcharge.
Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan discovered the mistake in September 2022 and filed an appeal for a refund. Suburban Deputy Collector Satish Bagal confirmed the error and stated, “After the formal government order, we will refund the excess ₹9 crore charged from Shah Rukh Khan.”
This refund decision regarding Mannat has sparked nationwide discussions, particularly on social media, where people are raising questions about the errors in property calculations in Mumbai, especially for high-value properties. Many are asking, if a star like Shah Rukh Khan can fall victim to such mistakes, how many common people are suffering from similar errors, and who is ensuring justice for them?