The Supreme Court on Friday declined to pause the Dharavi Redevelopment Project currently being undertaken by the Adani Group despite a legal challenge from Dubai-based Seclink Technology Corporation (STC).
STC had appealed against the Bombay High Court’s December 19, 2024 ruling, which upheld the Maharashtra government’s 2022 decision to cancel STC’s 2019 bid and award a fresh contract to Adani. The apex court refused to issue a status quo order, citing that work on the project had already begun.
Legal Battle Over Mega Project
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the Adani Group, informed the bench that machinery worth crores had been deployed and hundreds of workers were already engaged, including in the demolition of an Indian Railways quarters at the site.
The court directed Adani to maintain an escrow account, ensuring that all project-related payments are processed transparently with proper invoices and documentation.
Senior Advocate C Aryama Sundaram, appearing for STC, argued that the original bid of ₹7,200 crore could be increased by 20% to ₹8,640 crore. The bench asked STC to submit an affidavit detailing this revised offer.
Background of the Dispute
STC had earlier challenged a July 13, 2023 government resolution, which formally awarded the project to Adani Properties Private Limited. The Bombay High Court dismissed claims that the tender was tailor-made for Adani, calling them “misconceived.”
Adani secured the Dharavi redevelopment contract in November 2022, with a ₹5,069 crore bid and an additional ₹2,800 crore payment to the railways, bringing the total to ₹7,869 crore. The project covers 259 hectares of Mumbai’s slum cluster, marking one of India’s most ambitious urban renewal initiatives.
