Mumbai, August 2
The Maharashtra Government may order a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the construction of industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s multi-storeyed building on what was formerly land belonging to the Wakf Board.

The state government has referred the matter to the law and judiciary for an opinion before proceeding in the matter, according to Minorities Welfare minister Arif Naseem Khan. According to Khan, the Central government had advised handing over investigations into the matter to the CBI. Since then the matter is pending before various government departments, Khan said, adding that the matter had been sent to the state home department for its opinion on July 24.

Ambani's building, the 27-storeyed Antilla, stands on land formerly owned by Karimbhai Ibrahimbhai Khoja Orphanage, which is an entity under the Wakf Board. The sale valued at Rs 21.5 crore dated 2002 has come under fire from the Muslim community on the grounds that it was severely undervalued.

The BJP is backing the demands of the Muslim community. “The property is worth at least Rs 500 crore,” BJP’s leader of the opposition in the state legislature Eknath Khadse said.

Demands for a CBI probe has come from even the Muslim MLAs in the ruling coalition. Nawab Malik, an NCP MLA, said the deal must be probed by the CBI because the sale appeared to severely undervalue the property.

“The government must demolish the property if anything illegal is found,” Malik told reporters outside the state legislature.

The building stands at Altamount Road in South Mumbai.