NEW DELHI - India says an upscale apartment building must be demolished because its location on Mumbai's coast violates environmental protection laws.

The 31-story building has caused a scandal in Indian politics because it was intended for war veterans and widows but the apartments were bought at cut-rate prices by top politicians and military brass.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh ordered Sunday that the owners of the building raze it within three months. The action appeared to be the first time a building that violated an environmental law was ordered demolished.

The scandal around the building led the state's chief minister to resign late last year.

The building was planned as six stories originally, but its finished height violates bans on tall structures near the coast.