A historic bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi, once the first official residence of India’s founding Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, has been sold for approximately Rs 1,100 crore. The property, located at 17 York Road, now called Motilal Nehru Marg, is among the most significant addresses in the national capital.
The current owners, Rajkumari Kakkar and Beena Rani, are reported to be members of a Rajasthani royal family. The bungalow covers 14,973 square metres (about 3.7 acres) with a built-up area of 24,000 square feet. The transaction was completed after negotiations reduced the price from the initial Rs 1,400 crore.
The buyer’s identity remains confidential. Sources indicate that it is a prominent Indian industrialist from the beverage sector. Legal formalities are in the final stages, with a leading law firm carrying out due diligence on the property’s title. A public notice has been issued on behalf of the buyer, inviting any parties with claims to the property to come forward within seven days. If no claims are made, it will be assumed that the property has a clear title.
The significance of the bungalow arises from its historical association with Nehru and its location within the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone (LBZ). This 28-square-kilometre area, designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens in the early 20th century, is the central government’s primary residential zone. Most of the roughly 3,000 bungalows in the LBZ are allotted to ministers, judges, and officials, while around 600 remain in private hands, often owned by wealthy families and industrialists.
The combination of location, plot size, and historical value places this property in a category accessible to very few buyers. The sale illustrates a trend in Delhi’s real estate market where properties with historical relevance and government proximity retain high market value.
Transactions in the LBZ involve careful legal procedures. Properties of historical importance are subject to scrutiny to ensure clear title. The engagement of a top law firm in this sale reflects the level of legal oversight required for such transfers.
The sale of the Nehru bungalow also highlights the limited availability of high-value private properties in central Delhi. Ownership in the LBZ provides access to the government precinct, with large land parcels in a location where residential plots are scarce.
Latest update as on 4th Sept 2025 Afternoon;
An Indian beverage tycoon will acquire a landmark property in the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone of New Delhi, once the first home of Jawaharlal Nehru in the capital. The transaction, valued at around ₹1,100 crore, is poised to become the most expensive residential real estate deal in India, eclipsing earlier records in Mumbai’s luxury housing market.
Currently vacant, the residence was previously leased but has since been put on the market by its owners, sisters Raj Kumari Kacker and Bina Rani. A Delhi-based law firm, Luthra & Luthra Law Offices, is overseeing the due diligence process. In a public notice issued this week, the firm stated that its client is “desirous of acquiring residential property situated at plot no. 5, block no. 14, 17 Motilal Nehru Marg” and invited any claims on the title to be submitted within seven days.
The notice marks the final stage of legal vetting before the deal can be concluded. “Due diligence is underway, and it may be a few months before the deal is closed,” said a person aware of the matter, who requested anonymity.
If completed, the transaction will surpass the record set earlier this year by Leena Gandhi Tewari, chairperson of pharmaceutical company USV. In that deal, she acquired two sea-facing duplex apartments in Mumbai’s Worli for ₹639 crore, which rose to ₹703 crore including stamp duty. At nearly ₹3 lakh per sq. ft, that transaction was the costliest apartment sale in India.
The prospective Delhi deal represents not only a significant escalation in pricing but also underlines the enduring demand for rare assets in the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone, where ownership is tightly controlled and supply is limited.
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