Maharashtra Govt Slams Forest Dept Over Inspection at Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat

Maharashtra's Minister of Cultural Affairs, Ashish Shelar, raised strong objections on Sunday after Forest Department officials visited actor Shah Rukh Khan’s residence, Mannat, in Mumbai. The visit was carried out following a complaint related to renovation work at the bungalow.

The Forest Department had requested support from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the inspection. Officials inspected the site and spoke with members of Khan’s staff regarding the renovation. However, Minister Shelar questioned the necessity of the visit and warned against unnecessary harassment.

"No One Should Be Harassed," Says Minister

Speaking to the media, Shelar expressed his concerns:

“Why did forest department officials visit Shah Rukh Khan's bungalow? If something is wrong, it should definitely be looked into. But our responsibility is also to make sure that no one in Mumbai or Maharashtra, including Shah Rukh Khan, is harassed without a valid reason or based on mere complaints,” he said.

He added that the state government has requested a detailed explanation from the Forest Department about the reason behind their visit.

What Prompted the Inspection?

Sources say the Forest Department received a complaint concerning the renovation at Mannat. To ensure a fair process, they approached the BMC to join them during the inspection.

During the visit, both BMC and Forest Department officials reviewed the renovation work and spoke with Shah Rukh Khan's representatives. Khan’s team reportedly assured the officials that all necessary permissions had been obtained before starting the renovation. They also offered to submit any required documents to support their case. The Forest Department is expected to compile a detailed report based on their findings during the visit. This incident has sparked a political debate, with the cultural minister stressing that investigations should be fair but should not result in undue pressure or disturbance to individuals, no matter their status.