Delhi BJP, AAP clash over PAC visit to Sheesh Mahal on September 14
Synopsis
With the PAC set to physically inspect the Sheesh Mahal on 14 September, the BJP-AAP political battle over Kejriwal's renovated bungalow is entering its most consequential phase yet — the findings could either confirm BJP's long-running allegations of extravagance or hand AAP a ready-made vindication ahead of its attempt to rebuild credibility after losing Delhi in 2025.
Key Takeaways
The Delhi Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is scheduled to inspect the 'Sheesh Mahal' — former CM Arvind Kejriwal's renovated bungalow at 6 Flagstaff Road — on 14 September .
Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta and PAC Chairman Ajay Mahawar will lead the visit with cameras to formally record observations.
AAP's Leader of Opposition Atishi said BJP's claims of a swimming pool, bar, and golden toilet seat will be 'laid bare' by the inspection.
BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor questioned whether the bungalow was built without approvals from DUAC and MCD , and why the budget was routed through small repair tenders.
PWD Minister Parvesh Verma announced in July 2026 that the sealed bungalow will be converted into a state guest house .
The Sheesh Mahal was a major campaigning issue for the BJP in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections , which it won, ending AAP's decade in power.
The Delhi BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) traded sharp accusations on Saturday, 12 September 2026, ahead of a scheduled inspection by the Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the 'Sheesh Mahal' — the renovated official bungalow of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at 6 Flagstaff Road in north Delhi. The visit, set for 14 September, has reignited a political flashpoint that dominated Delhi's 2025 Assembly elections.
What the PAC Visit Entails
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta and PAC Chairman Ajay Mahawar are expected to tour the now-sealed bungalow on 14 September with cameras, formally recording their observations. The inspection is aimed at verifying or refuting claims made by BJP leaders regarding allegedly extravagant facilities inside the residence — including a swimming pool, a bar, and a golden toilet seat — that became central BJP talking points during the run-up to the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, which the BJP won, ending AAP's decade-long hold on power.
AAP's Counter: Claims Will Be 'Laid Bare'
AAP's Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Atishi said on Saturday that she is confident the BJP's allegations will be disproved once the PAC team conducts its inspection. 'The alleged claims made by the BJP about the presence of a swimming pool, a bar and golden toilet seat in the bungalow will be laid bare,' she said in a video message. Atishi also accused BJP leaders of making 'wrong claims' about spending on the bungalow's facilities, framing the PAC visit as a political opportunity for AAP to clear Kejriwal's name.
BJP's Rebuttal: Procedural Violations at the Core
Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor countered Atishi's remarks in a post on X, raising procedural questions about the bungalow's construction. 'Honourable Leader of the Opposition @AtishiAAPji, what the Assembly Committee will show, what it will reveal — this is within their jurisdiction. But since you yourself have been the Chief Minister, please tell us — why did @ArvindKejriwalji got the bungalow at 6 Flagstaff Road constructed without obtaining approval from @duac74, without getting the map approved from @MCD_Delhi?' Kapoor wrote.
Kapoor further questioned why the renovation was executed through 'small repair tenders' rather than a full budget approval, and why the bungalow was never formally declared the official Chief Minister's residence. 'Instead of getting the full budget approved, why was it built on the basis of small repair tenders? And yes, if #Kejriwalji had this built as the Chief Minister's residence, then why was it never declared that this will now be the residence of the Chief Minister of Delhi?' he added.
Bungalow's Fate and the BJP Government's Plans
The bungalow has remained sealed and unoccupied since AAP lost power. In July 2026, BJP government's Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Verma announced that the sealed property would be converted into a state guest house. Separately, Verma had earlier shared a video on social media likening Kejriwal to 'Delhi's Rehman Dakait' — a reference to an underworld character in the Bollywood film Dhurandhar — along with a spoof video titled 'Dhurandhar PART 3' depicting the bungalow's alleged lavish facilities. The social media campaign drew criticism from AAP as inflammatory and legally irresponsible.
Political Context and What Comes Next
The Sheesh Mahal controversy predates the current government. The BJP had repeatedly used imagery of the bungalow's renovation — carried out under AAP's watch — to build a narrative of elite excess against a party that came to power on an anti-corruption platform. With the PAC inspection now formalised, both parties appear set to use the 14 September visit as either a vindication or a fresh evidence-gathering exercise. The PAC's findings, once documented, are expected to be placed before the Assembly.
Point of View
Bar, or golden toilet seat, AAP gains a rare post-defeat narrative victory; if violations are documented, BJP's 'governance vs. extravagance' frame gets institutional validation. What mainstream coverage underplays is the procedural dimension — Kapoor's questions about DUAC and MCD approvals and the tender fragmentation are the more serious accountability test, one that image-driven social media campaigns on both sides have consistently drowned out. The conversion of the bungalow into a guest house also means the physical evidence window may be narrow.
NationPress
12 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sheesh Mahal and why is it controversial?
The 'Sheesh Mahal' is the renovated official bungalow at 6 Flagstaff Road in north Delhi used by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during his tenure. It became controversial after the BJP alleged that taxpayer money was spent on extravagant facilities including a swimming pool, a bar, and a golden toilet seat — claims Kejriwal and AAP have denied.
Why is the PAC visiting the Sheesh Mahal on 14 September?
The Delhi Assembly's Public Accounts Committee, led by Speaker Vijender Gupta and PAC Chairman Ajay Mahawar, plans to inspect and document conditions inside the bungalow on 14 September 2026. The visit is intended to formally verify or refute the BJP's allegations about lavish spending on the property.
What has AAP said about the upcoming inspection?
AAP's Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Atishi said she is confident the PAC visit will disprove BJP claims about the bungalow. In a video message on 12 September, she stated that allegations about a swimming pool, bar, and golden toilet seat would be 'laid bare' during the inspection.
What procedural violations has the BJP alleged?
BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor alleged that the bungalow's renovation was carried out without approval from the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) and without getting maps cleared by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). He also questioned why the project was funded through small repair tenders instead of a full budget approval, and why it was never formally declared the official Chief Minister's residence.
What will happen to the Sheesh Mahal bungalow?
PWD Minister Parvesh Verma announced in July 2026 that the sealed bungalow will be converted into a state guest house. The property has remained unoccupied since the BJP came to power following the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections.
