A Record-Breaking Deal in Delhi
A bungalow that once served as Jawaharlal Nehru’s first official residence is on the verge of becoming India’s most expensive residential property sale. Located at 17 Motilal Nehru Marg (formerly York Road), the nearly 3.7-acre estate in the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone (LBZ) is set to be sold for around ₹1,100 crore. The historic bungalow is being sold by, Raj Kumari Kackar and Bina Rani, members of a former royal family from Rajasthan. The original asking price was ₹1,400 crore, and the buyer is reported to be a tycoon from the domestic beverage industry.
Why the Property Matters
Beyond its size — nearly 14,973 sq m of land with 24,000 sq ft of built area — the property carries immense historical weight. It was the first official home of India’s first Prime Minister between 1946 and 1948, before he shifted to Teen Murti House. Today, it stands in one of the most exclusive and tightly regulated real estate zones in the country.
Fortress of Rules in the Heart of Delhi
Deals in LBZ take time because this area is a fortress of regulations:
- Height limits block large-scale reconstruction.
- Ground coverage is capped, that means there is a limit on how much of the total land area you can cover with buildings at ground level.
- Basements and alterations are closely monitored.
These restrictions mean buyers cannot simply tear down and rebuild; instead, they must preserve much of the original character while following New Delhi Municipal Council(NDMC) and heritage rules.
Legal and Verification Marathon
The transaction is still awaiting final registration, as lawyers conduct exhaustive checks:
- Tracing decades of title history line by line.
- Verifying succession certificates, since the sellers descend from a royal family.
- Pulling Encumbrance Certificates to confirm no loans or disputes exist.
- Clearing taxes and collecting NOCs from multiple departments.
- Publishing a newspaper notice inviting objections or hidden claims within seven days.
Only after this marathon does the deal move to registration.
📜 Why the Notice Is Issued
Before a mega-deal like this can close, the buyer’s lawyers publish a public notice in leading newspapers. This is a standard part of title due diligence in India. It serves as an open call for anyone who might have a claim on the property to come forward.
📰 What the Notice Contains
From what has been reported:
- The notice was placed by Luthra & Luthra Law Offices India, representing the prospective buyer.
- It specifically identified the property as Plot No. 5, Block No. 14, 17 Motilal Nehru Marg, New Delhi.
- It listed the current owners — Raj Kumari Kackar and Bina Rani — as the sellers.
- It invited anyone with objections, encumbrances, or competing claims to submit them within 7 days.
⚖️ Legal Effect of the Notice
This step reduces litigation risk after the purchase — especially important here since the sellers belong to a royal lineage, and large families sometimes produce new claimants years later.
If no one objects within the time window, the buyer gains added comfort that there are no hidden heirs, mortgages, pending disputes, or unpaid dues.
If someone does object, the lawyers must investigate and resolve it (for example, by clearing a loan, producing a succession certificate, or settling a tax).
Surpassing India’s Previous Records
If closed, the ₹1,100 crore sale will outpace other high-value residential transactions:
- Leena Gandhi Tewari’s Worli duplexes in Mumbai (~₹703 crore including duties).
- The Lincoln House deal in Mumbai (~₹750 crore), which remains unresolved.
This will firmly place Delhi’s LBZ at the top of India’s property market charts.
Lesson for Every Buyer
The lesson is universal: paperwork secures property, not just price. Whether it’s a ₹50-lakh flat or a ₹1,100-crore bungalow, proper verification is critical. Tools like Verified.RealEstate’s Encumbrance Certificate check, Patta verification, and legal opinion services give buyers the confidence they need before investing.