BJP demands Delhi LG's intervention to restore 'Sheesh Mahal', seeks swift action on violations

New Delhi: Newly elected BJP MLA, Vijender Gupta, on Monday requested Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena to cancel the merger of four government properties with the 'Sheesh Mahal' (6, Flagstaff Road), a bungalow once used by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Gupta’s request comes amid a continuing political campaign targeting Kejriwal over corruption allegations.

Gupta claimed that the bungalow was expanded by merging four government properties and urged the Lt Governor to intervene in order to cancel the amalgamation. He made the request in light of the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the bungalow’s reconstruction and alleged irregularities.

Kejriwal’s former official residence under scrutiny

The bungalow, which was reconstructed and used as the official residence of Arvind Kejriwal from 2015 until October 2024, has come under investigation following allegations of corruption and misconduct. Kejriwal vacated the residence after resigning from his post in the wake of the BJP's accusations.

Gupta, who was the Leader of Opposition in the recently dissolved 7th Delhi Assembly, stated that the BJP's Chief Minister will not reside in the bungalow due to the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities. He also pointed out that the land from the demerged properties had been repurposed for other official purposes, including the construction of government quarters.

BJP targets Kejriwal over alleged corruption 

The BJP has been critical of Kejriwal for over two years, particularly during the recent Delhi Assembly election campaign. They accused him of corruption, including alleged irregularities in the reconstruction of the bungalow and the installation of lavish interiors, high-end domestic goods, and fixtures.

Gupta further charged that Kejriwal had transformed the bungalow into an 'ultra-luxurious Sheesh Mahal' by 'illegally annexing' neighbouring government properties. In his letter to the Lt Governor, Gupta highlighted the scale of the alleged alterations, stating, "The scope of these unauthorized alterations is particularly concerning. What was meant to be a standard official residence has been transformed into a lavish complex spanning more than 50,000 square meters."

Details of the merged properties

Gupta identified the properties involved in the merger, including eight Type-V flats at 45 and 47 Rajpur Road, and two government bungalows (8-A and 8-B Flagstaff Road), which were merged with the 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow.

"I urgently request your intervention to restore these properties to their original independent status and return 6-Flag Staff Road to its previous area of less than 10,000 square meters," he wrote in his letter to the Lt Governor.

Call for swift action and investigation  

In his letter, Gupta also called on the Lt Governor to expedite the ongoing investigation into the alleged violations. He stressed the importance of swift action to ensure accountability and restore public trust in government institutions.

PTI