Adani Dharavi redevelopment contract: Supreme Court puts conditions

In response to an appeal that alleged a “scandal” in the Dharavi redevelopment contract awarded to the Adani Group, the Supreme Court on Friday (March 7) placed certain conditions but stopped short of stalling the project. The court said the project awarded to the Adani Group is “subject to court orders”.

The observation came as the top court agreed to hear Seychelles-based SecLink Group’s plea which claimed the tender conditions were tweaked to favour Adani Properties, a part of Adani Group. SecLink claimed that the bid by Adani Properties was of ₹5,069 crore against SecLink’s bid of ₹7,200 crore and it was willing to raise the bid further to ₹8,640 crore.

The apex court issued notices to the Maharashtra government and Adani Properties and sought replies on SecLink’s ouster from the project and tweaks to tender conditions. The court said the award to Adani Properties is “subject to court orders”.

While noting that SecLink was the highest bidder in 2018 by a substantial amount, the court questioned if the state government is entitled to cancel the tender and also if conditions were tweaked to oust SecLink.

The Seychelles-based group has challenged the Bombay High Court verdict of December 2024 in the Supreme Court. The high court had upheld the award of project to Adani Properties.

In 2018, Seclink emerged as the highest bidder with ₹7,200 crore bid but the tender was cancelled by the Maharashtra government. The state issued a fresh tender with revised conditions in 2022 and Adani Properties emerged as the top bidder with ₹5,069 crore bid.

In the top court, SecLink questioned the cancellation of tender and cited its status as highest bidder in 2018. It argued that fresh conditions were introduced to suit Adani and “extraneous reasons” were behind revision in terms.

“Never seen a government wanting less money for redevelopment. Relaxations have been given to Adani. It is a scandal which will shock the court’s conscience. The 2018 bid of ₹7,200 crore was rejected in favour of ₹5,069 crore bid of Adani. Before SC, now raising my bid even higher to ₹8,640 crore,” SecLink told the court.