Lucknow: Sahara India’s Four-Decade-Old Empire Faces Closure

Lucknow, September 30 — The 47-year-old empire of Sahara India in Lucknow appears to be nearing its end. Following the death of Sahara Group founder Subrata Roy, government agencies have intensified action against the conglomerate’s assets.

The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), district administration, and the Municipal Corporation have jointly initiated a review of 19 properties leased to Sahara.

Among them is a sprawling 130-acre tract in Gomti Nagar’s Sahara City, which the Lucknow Municipal Corporation has announced will soon be sealed. The land was originally part of a 170-acre allotment sanctioned during the Mulayam Singh Yadav government in 1994–95, of which 130 acres were licensed for residential and commercial projects under specific deed conditions.

Municipal Commissioner Gaurav Kumar stated that the Sahara Group had failed to comply with these conditions. Instead, the company constructed a luxury bungalow, a modern theatre, a 5,000-seat auditorium, airport-style scanners, a helipad, a stadium, office complexes, a petrol station, a fire station, a swimming pool, a hospital, and even an artificial lake — all in violation of the license deed. Sahara’s response to the official notice was rejected by the Municipal Corporation, paving the way for immediate enforcement action.

Ahead of the sealing, the Municipal Corporation has prepared to file a caveat before the Supreme Court to preempt any counter-petition from Sahara. Once the order is executed, employees, security guards, and caretakers residing on the premises — including at Sahara Shri’s residence — will be evacuated. All gates of the complex will be sealed, with only one temporarily kept open for essential movement before being closed permanently. The Corporation will then deploy security forces and assume full control of the property.