Mukesh Ambani's land deal in Mumbai termed "illegal"

MUMBAI: Maharashtra government on Tuesday termed as "illegal" a land deal by Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani's group firm for a posh mansion now under construction in the plush Malabar Hill area of South Mumbai.
    
A notification issued by Revenue and Forest Department has directed the state Wakf Board to 'take back possession' of five wakf board properties, including the 4,532 sq metre land where Ambani is building the 27-floor skyscraper.
    
"An inquiry into the land transfer deal has found truth in allegations that the transfer was illegal," according to the communication signed by Deputy Secretary, Revenue and
Forest, Avinash Hazare.
    
The government asked the Board to proceed as per Section 52 of the Wakf Act 1995, in respect of the five properties.
    
The other properties are located in Nanded (26 acres and 11 hectares), Kej in Beed district (10 acres) and at Satara village in Aurangabad district (24 hectares).
    
Board Chairman M A Aziz has been asked to clarify his position on these transactions within 15 days, failing which he can be sacked. The government has also ordered a special audit of the Wakf Board.
    
Antilia Commercial Pvt Ltd, a Mukesh Ambani company, had bought the property in 2002.