Delhi: AAP’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’ Under Scrutiny as CVC Investigates CPWD Report
New Delhi, 15th February 2025: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has initiated an inquiry into the renovation of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence at 6, Flagstaff Bungalow, following a factual report submitted by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).
The investigation was ordered on February 13 after the CPWD examined allegations that “building regulations were violated to construct an opulent mansion spanning 40,000 square yards (8 acres)” and subsequently presented its findings to the CVC.
The bungalow served as the official residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal throughout his tenure as Delhi’s chief minister from 2015 until October 2024, when he vacated the premises after stepping down from office.
This development comes shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) urged Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to annul the merger of four properties with what they termed the “Sheesh Mahal.”
Kejriwal’s residence, dubbed “Sheesh Mahal” by both the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, became a central point of political attacks against the AAP leader, particularly during the campaign for the recent Delhi assembly elections, where corruption allegations were a focal issue.
Newly elected BJP MLA Vijender Gupta alleged that the bungalow was expanded by merging four government properties. He stated that he had formally requested the Lieutenant Governor to revoke the merger.
Gupta accused Kejriwal of converting the residence into an “ultra-luxurious ‘Sheesh Mahal'” by “illegally annexing” adjacent government-owned properties.
“The extent of these unauthorized modifications is alarming. What was initially intended as a standard official residence has been transformed into an extravagant complex covering over 50,000 square meters,” Gupta wrote in his letter.
He further detailed that the properties merged with the 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow included eight Type-V flats at 45 and 47 Rajpur Road, as well as two government bungalows (8-A and 8-B Flagstaff Road).
“I urge your immediate intervention to restore these properties to their original independent status and return 6, Flagstaff Road to its previous size of under 10,000 square meters,” he added.
Previously, Prime Minister Modi had criticized Kejriwal, accusing him of neglecting the public while constructing a “Sheesh Mahal,” contrasting it with the BJP’s commitment to providing housing for the underprivileged.
