After CBI, now Vigilance body targets Kejriwal’s ‘Sheesh Mahal’
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has intensified scrutiny on Arvind Kejriwal by directing the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to investigate alleged irregularities in the renovation of his official residence at 6, Flagstaff Road.
BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have frequently criticized the property, dubbing it “Sheesh Mahal.” The Delhi government’s Public Works Department owns the bungalow, which was allotted to Kejriwal in 2015.
In October 2024, BJP MLA Vijender Gupta filed a complaint with the CVC, alleging Kejriwal illegally expanded the property into a lavish mansion spanning eight acres. He claimed the construction violated building regulations, demolished adjacent government properties, and exceeded floor area ratio norms without approval.
A year earlier, in September 2023, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a preliminary inquiry after the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered a Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) audit into the alleged violations. On October 16, 2023, the CVC registered the complaint and referred it to CPWD for examination. By December, CPWD’s chief vigilance officer submitted a factual report based on Gupta’s allegations.
On Thursday, the CVC informed Gupta that CPWD had been instructed to conduct a detailed probe. The commission assured him that authorities would take appropriate action based on the findings.
A CAG report revealed that the estimated renovation cost skyrocketed from ₹7.91 crore in 2020 to ₹33.66 crore by 2022. The Indian Express reported these details on January 5.
Kejriwal, who resigned as Delhi chief minister in September 2024 after securing bail in a separate excise policy case, vacated the residence in October. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dismissed the allegations, calling them a political vendetta. AAP leaders argue that the bungalow is a government asset that future chief ministers will also use.
With the CVC ordering a deeper investigation, Kejriwal faces mounting pressure as authorities examine the financial and legal aspects of the renovation.
