NEW DELHI: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has directed the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to conduct a detailed probe into the alleged merger of properties to expand the 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow, the official residence of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The bungalow, labelled ‘sheesh mahal’ by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) due to alleged high expenditure on renovation, was occupied by Kejriwal from 2015 until the first week of October 2024.
Reacting to the development, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit back at the BJP, asking it to abandon “negative politics and focus on fulfilling promises made to the people of Delhi”.
AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar questioned why the BJP barred the media from inspecting the CM’s residence if there were alleged violations. She challenged the BJP to reveal whether the claims of a golden toilet, swimming pool and mini bar were facts or only political theatrics.
Priyanka also demanded an impartial probe into the expenditure incurred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence.
The CVC’s directions came after it took cognisance of BJP leader Vijender Gupta’s two earlier complaints and reports of the Central Public Works Department.
Gupta, a BJP MLA from Rohini, said at a press conference that in his first complaint lodged with the CVC on October 14, 2024, he had alleged how Kejriwal flouted building norms by merging government properties to build the lavish mansion covering 40,000 square yards (8 acres) of land.
“The residences of senior officers and judges, including plot numbers 45 and 47 on Rajpur Road and two bungalows (8-A & 8-B on Flagstaff Road), were demolished and merged into the ‘sheesh mahal’, in violation of building norms and land usage regulations,” claimed Gupta.
The CVC registered the complaint on October 16, 2024, and forwarded the matter to the CPWD, which submitted its factual report on December 5, confirming the violations.
On February 13 this year, the CVC directed the CPWD to conduct a full-scale investigation into the matter.
In his second complaint, Gupta had demanded an investigation into “extravagant spending” on the renovation and interior decoration of the residence of the Chief Minister.