Delhi PAC chief Ajay Mahawar may seek probe into leak of committee proceedings
Synopsis
Delhi's PAC chief Ajay Mahawar is set to seek a formal Speaker-level inquiry into the leaking of committee proceedings — proceedings that include scrutiny of Sheesh Mahal's CAG-flagged cost overruns, a ₹60 crore staff quarters project, and ₹45.90 lakh spent on curtains. After 17 years of PAC dormancy, accountability is back on the Delhi Assembly's agenda — and someone apparently didn't want it kept there.
Key Takeaways
Ajay Mahawar , PAC Chairman and MLA from Ghonda , may approach Speaker Vijender Gupta to seek an inquiry into the leak of committee proceedings on social media.
The PAC report was tabled in the Delhi Assembly in 2025 — the first such report in nearly 17 years since 2008-09 .
The committee is examining the Sheesh Mahal renovation, where the construction area reportedly grew from 1,397 sq m to 1,905 sq m , adding an estimated ₹18.88 crore in costs.
The CAG report flags expenditure of around ₹45.90 lakh on curtains and questions the rate basis used by the Public Works Department.
A separate matter involving construction of staff quarters worth approximately ₹60 crore is also before the PAC.
Mahawar criticised past governments for failing to act on CAG reports despite championing accountability bodies like the Lokpal and Lokayukta.
The Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, 14 September 2026 said that Ajay Mahawar, Chairman of the Delhi Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and MLA from Ghonda, has hinted at approaching Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta to demand an inquiry into the leaking of the panel's proceedings on social media. The disclosure came after Mahawar held a press conference demanding action against those responsible for making the committee's deliberations public and giving them what he termed a political colour.
What Mahawar Said at the Press Conference
Speaking to reporters, Mahawar underscored that the Public Accounts Committee is a constitutionally and parliamentarily significant body of the Delhi Assembly and must function within its prescribed framework. He demanded action against individuals who leaked proceedings, circulated them on social media, or attempted to colour them politically. He also noted that after a gap of nearly 17 years — following the last report presented in 2008-09 — the PAC report was tabled in the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 2025, signalling a resumption of accountability oversight that had long stalled.
Mahawar pointedly remarked that more than 40 pending matters had failed to move forward in previous years, adding that those who had championed the Lokpal and Lokayukta during their time in opposition had not ensured regular action on Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports or timely presentation of PAC reports when they were in government. 'Merely making announcements is not sufficient. The responsibility of Assembly committees is to ensure accountability on the basis of facts,' he said.
Sheesh Mahal Under the Scanner
A significant portion of the PAC's current examination concerns the renovation of the official residence of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Civil Lines, commonly referred to as 'Sheesh Mahal'. According to the Delhi BJP statement, the PAC is verifying facts on points raised by the CAG in its report, specifically Paragraph 2.5, which questions why the Public Works Department used an old rate basis for determining construction costs and what justified the applicable rates.
The CAG report notes that the construction area was expanded from approximately 1,397 square metres to 1,905 square metres, with an additional financial implication of around ₹18.88 crore. The committee is probing the basis on which these approvals were granted and how the estimated cost escalated.
Other Expenditure Items Under Scrutiny
Beyond the area increase, the PAC is also examining costs related to civil works, electrical works, modular kitchens, and other items. The CAG report, according to the BJP's statement, mentions expenditure of around ₹45.90 lakh on curtains alone. Additionally, a matter involving the construction of staff quarters worth approximately ₹60 crore has also come before the committee for examination.
The committee is seeking clarity on who authorised these additional expenditures, the basis for the cost increases, and whether approval from the competent authority was obtained in each case.
What Comes Next
Mahawar is reportedly set to formally write to Speaker Vijender Gupta seeking a structured inquiry into the leak. The PAC's continued scrutiny of the Sheesh Mahal file and the staff quarters project indicates that multiple financial accountability threads remain open. How the Assembly Speaker responds — and whether the inquiry widens — will determine the political and institutional fallout in the coming weeks.
Point of View
Where the Sheesh Mahal file has become a proxy battleground between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party. Mahawar's move to invoke the Speaker underscores that the BJP-controlled PAC intends to use institutional levers rather than just press conferences. Yet the irony is not lost: the BJP is decrying leaks from a committee whose findings it has also publicised in press statements, raising questions about whose political temperature the leak truly served. The real test of the PAC's credibility will be whether its CAG-based scrutiny leads to a formal report with findings — not just periodic media flare-ups.
NationPress
15 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Delhi PAC chief Ajay Mahawar want a probe into the leak of proceedings?
Mahawar contends that details of the Public Accounts Committee's deliberations were leaked onto social media and given a political colour, which he says undermines the constitutional and parliamentary sanctity of the body. He has indicated he will approach Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta to seek a formal inquiry into who was responsible.
What is the Sheesh Mahal controversy being examined by the PAC?
The PAC is verifying findings in Paragraph 2.5 of the CAG report concerning the renovation of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence in Civil Lines, known as Sheesh Mahal. The CAG flagged that the construction area was expanded from roughly 1,397 sq m to 1,905 sq m, adding an estimated ₹18.88 crore, and questioned the rate basis used by the Public Works Department.
How significant is the resumption of Delhi PAC activity?
The PAC tabled its report in the Delhi Legislative Assembly in 2025, the first such report in nearly 17 years since 2008-09. More than 40 pending matters had remained unaddressed during this gap, making the committee's renewed scrutiny a substantial shift in legislative oversight.
What other expenditures is the Delhi PAC investigating?
Apart from the Sheesh Mahal construction costs, the PAC is scrutinising a staff quarters construction project worth approximately ₹60 crore. It is also examining expenses on civil works, electrical works, modular kitchens, and curtains — the last of which the CAG reports at around ₹45.90 lakh.
Who is Ajay Mahawar and what is his role?
Ajay Mahawar is a BJP MLA from the Ghonda constituency and currently serves as Chairman of the Delhi Assembly's Public Accounts Committee. In that role, he oversees the committee's examination of CAG audit findings and government expenditure accountability.
