Story by Raksha Bhattacharjee
From 2015 till October 2024, Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, lived in the bungalow at 6 Flagstaff Road.
“Sheesh Mahal”
As part of its campaign against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for suspected corruption, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) urged lieutenant governor VK Saxena on Monday to annul the merger of four properties with the “Sheesh Mahal” (6, Flagstaff Road).
Bungalow was enlarged by combining four government properties
According to Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, the bungalow was enlarged by combining four government properties, and he has urged Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to undo the combination.
“The next chief minister of Delhi will not reside in it,” he added, adding that the bungalow’s future usage would be decided by the newly established administration. From 2015 to October 2024, when he resigned due to BJP corruption claims, Arvind Kejriwal used the refurbished mansion as his official residence while serving as Delhi’s chief ministers .
7th Delhi Assembly that was dissolved last week
As the bungalow is being investigated for suspected irregularities, the newly elected BJP MLA from Rohini, who was the Leader of Opposition in the 7th Delhi Assembly that was dissolved last week, said the BJP Chief Minister will not be staying there.
BJP accused Kejriwal of corruption
The land from the defunct homes was put to other official uses, like constructing government buildings, Gupta continued. For more than two years, especially during the campaign for the assembly election, the BJP accused Kejriwal of corruption, citing issues with the bungalow’s restoration, its ostentatious decor, and the installation of expensive fixtures and household products.
Sheesh Mahal’ by Kejriwal by ‘illegally annexing
The home was converted into “an ultra-luxurious ‘Sheesh Mahal’ by Kejriwal by ‘illegally annexing’” nearby government properties, Gupta wrote to the LG. It’s especially alarming how widespread these illegal changes are. What was supposed to be a typical government dwelling has been turned into an opulent complex that is over 50,000 square meters in size,” Sachdeva noted in the letter.
Eight Type-V apartments
According to him, the amalgamated assets comprised two government homes (8-A and 8-B Flag Staff Road) and eight Type-V apartments located at 45 and 47 Raipur Road. The bungalow at 6 Flagstaff Road was also included.
Sachdeva stated, “I urgently ask for your intervention to return 6-lag Staff Road to its former area of less than 10,000 square meters and restore these properties to their original independent status.” Additionally, Gupta requested the lieutenant governor to expedite the inquiry into the alleged infractions, stressing the necessity of prompt action to guarantee accountability and rebuild public confidence in government institutions.
