Lucknow: For years, a 170-acre complex in Lucknow’s upscale Gomti Nagar area, popularly known as ‘Sahara Shahar’, was the object of curiosity and fascination for city residents, who could only catch glimpses of it through its towering gates.
To most people, the iconic property—once associated with controversial business tycoon Subrata Roy, who first rose to prominence in the 1990s, before the collapse of his empire on being accused of cheating millions of investors—was a mysterious world, a private space reserved for India’s elite, including politicians, movie stars, sportspersons and leading business figures.
On Monday, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) sealed the sprawling property, which once housed a palatial residence, luxury guesthouses, a helipad, a petrol pump, and an auditorium, over alleged violations of its lease deed and licence agreement.
“After entering the complex, one first comes across a temple dedicated to Bharat Mata. A theatre and an auditorium are easily visible nearby,” according to one official involved with the sealing process. “Within the campus, there is also a row of guest houses, divided into different categories, along with a large swimming pool. A little further inside stands a palatial residence with over 30 rooms, built for Roy and his family.”
Sahara India Commercial Corporation Limited has filed a petition in the Lucknow Bench of the High Court, saying that authorities took possession of the property without prior notice, even though a civil court stay was already in place. The petition also requests the cancellation of the municipal corporation’s orders.
LMC officials said the land was originally leased in 1995 for 30 years by the then Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Uttar Pradesh government to Sahara India Commercial Corporation Ltd via a lease and licence agreement. The municipal corporation had allotted the land to the Sahara Group to develop a residential colony, but it was instead turned into a lavish complex, prompting the corporation to cancel the lease deed in 1997. The dispute later reached the court.
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Private helipad, 6,000-seat auditorium & stadium
What lies behind the sealed gates of the building featuring a statue of ‘Bharat Mata’ and a large sign reading ‘Sahara India Pariwar’? ThePrint has learnt that the complex had a 200-seat cinema hall, where new films were often premiered. Over the years, it became a hotspot for film stars, political leaders and sports icons, adding to its aura of glamour and exclusivity.
The LMC official said Sahara City even had a private helipad, used by Roy, his family, and other VIP guests. Battery-powered carts were used to move around the complex, which also included a luxurious swimming pool and an organic farm.
Among its most striking structures was Jal Mahal, a VIP guest house once considered the crown jewel of Sahara City. In front of it lay a pond filled with rare fish from India and abroad. Security staff recalled that Amitabh Bachchan and other film stars often stayed at Jal Mahal, an area accessible only to select employees. Today, both the palace and the pond lie in ruins.
Inside Sahara City, more than 20 luxury cars, including Audis and BMWs, still remain parked.
According to S.K. Mishra, an employee who worked there for 25 years, seeing Sahara City being vacated is deeply saddening. He said the complex once had a healthcare centre, a cinema hall, a 6,000-seat auditorium, a guest house, lawns and even a cricket stadium. In 2007, both the Indian and Pakistani cricket teams practiced there.
Now, the stadium is overrun with weeds and looks more like a jungle.
During the evacuation process, a small dairy inside the complex housed 35 cattle, which were handed back to Sahara management, ThePrint has learnt.
The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has already taken control of 70 acres intended for a green belt and is developing a biodiversity park there.
Meanwhile, the Sahara Group is trying to reclaim its Sahara Market in Vibhuti Khand, another area of Lucknow.
While Roy passed away in 2023, his son Sushanto reportedly obtained Macedonian citizenship in 2013, along with his mother, Swapna Roy. This happened while Roy was facing multiple legal battles in India. According to sources, Swapna Roy continued visiting ‘Sahara Shahar’ even after Subrata’s death, but his sons had not been there for years.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
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