BMC action puts proposed salon-spa project under scrutiny
Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn’s bungalow in Mumbai’s Juhu has come under civic scrutiny after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a stop-work notice over ongoing work connected with plans to operate a salon and spa from the property.
The notice was issued by the BMC’s K-West ward following a complaint from the Kapole Co-operative Housing Society, where the property is located. The dispute centres on whether the premises have the required approvals for the proposed commercial use.
Importantly, the stop-work notice does not by itself establish that the owners have committed a final or proven civic violation. The Devgn side disputes the suggestion that the required approvals are missing and has sought time to respond.
What did the BMC say?
According to local corporator Sudha Singh, the matter was examined by the Building and Factory Department of the K-West ward.
She said that, prima facie, permission for commercial use of the S-10 premises had not been granted. After receiving the housing society's complaint, civic authorities sought documents from the property owners. A stop-work notice followed when the required permissions were not produced, according to her account.
The Devgn family has sought four weeks to submit its response to the civic body.
Which Ajay Devgn property is involved?
The dispute concerns a 7,802 sq ft bungalow at Plot S-10, N S Road No. 11, JVPD Scheme, Juhu.
The property has reportedly been leased to Florian Hurel Salons Pvt Ltd under a five-year registered leave-and-licence agreement dated August 10. Reporting on the agreement says the rent begins at ₹16 lakh per month in the first year, with a 5% annual escalation, putting the estimated value over the five-year term at approximately ₹10.61 crore.
The current civic dispute, however, is not primarily about whether the bungalow can be leased. It concerns the proposed use of the premises as a commercial salon and spa and the approvals required for that use.
Housing society raises parking, security and noise concerns
The Kapole Co-operative Housing Society has objected to the proposed commercial activity at the property.
Residents have raised concerns that operating a salon and spa could increase customer traffic inside the neighbourhood and create additional pressure involving parking, security and noise, particularly because of the area's narrow internal roads.
The society had previously sought documents demonstrating that the premises could legally be used for the proposed business. It subsequently pursued the matter with cooperative and civic authorities.
Society NOC and commercial-use approval are separate issues
One important detail adds context to the dispute.
According to Outlook's report based on Mumbai Mirror's reporting, an authorised officer of the society issued an NOC on July 22 stating that there was no objection to Veena Virendra Devgan and Vishal alias Ajay Devgan leasing the bungalow to Florian Hurel Salons Private Limited.
However, that document reportedly did not itself grant permission to convert or use the residential premises as a commercial establishment. Instead, responsibility for securing applicable government and statutory clearances remained with the owners.
That distinction is central to understanding the case: permission to lease a property is not necessarily the same as regulatory approval for a particular commercial use.
Devgn camp says necessary approvals have been obtained
Ajay Devgn’s side has challenged the suggestion that the required permissions are absent.
A source from the Devgn camp told Hindustan Times:
“The requisite permissions and approvals from the concerned authorities in relation to the proposed use of the premises have been duly obtained.”
India Today reported the same position from sources associated with the Devgn camp. Ruchi Kanojiya, chief legal and compliance officer at the Devgn Group, was unavailable for comment when approached by the publication.
This creates a clear factual dispute: civic representatives say the relevant permission was not produced when sought, while the Devgn side says the necessary approvals have been obtained.
The documents submitted in response to the notice will therefore be important in determining how the matter proceeds.
Society had approached BMC before stop-work notice
The civic action was preceded by a formal complaint.
According to reporting on the case, on September 8, the society approached the BMC under Section 43 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act and requested an inspection. It also sought action under Sections 52 to 54 if violations were detected.
Among the issues the society wanted authorities to examine were whether a salon was permitted at the premises, whether a change-of-user approval existed and whether the Occupation Certificate covered the proposed activity.
It also raised questions about permissions connected with potential structural work, plumbing, electrical installations, HVAC, access, parking, signage and fire safety. These are issues raised by the society for regulatory examination, not findings that violations occurred.
What happens next?
The matter has not reached a final regulatory conclusion.
For now, the key development is the BMC stop-work notice, with the Devgn family seeking four weeks to respond. Separate proceedings arising from the housing society's complaint have also been reported in the cooperative department.
The next stage is likely to depend on the permissions and supporting documents submitted by the property owners and how civic authorities assess them against the proposed use of the bungalow.
Until that process is completed, it would be premature to describe the salon-spa project as conclusively illegal or unauthorised.
Why this distinction matters
Headlines describing the BMC as having acted against an “illegal salon” would go beyond what has currently been established.
What is confirmed is that the BMC issued a stop-work notice following the society's complaint, and civic representatives say the relevant commercial-use permission was not produced. The Devgn camp, meanwhile, says the necessary permissions and approvals have already been obtained.
The dispute therefore remains an ongoing civic and regulatory matter rather than a final determination of wrongdoing.
Sources
Primary reporting: Mumbai Mirror, with the development subsequently reported by Hindustan Times, India Today, Moneycontrol and other publications.
Additional context: Outlook India reporting on the lease agreement, society NOC, regulatory complaint and commercial-use dispute.
