Vijender Gupta Criticizes Kejriwal's Rs 200-Crore Sheesh Mahal Renovation Scheme

New Delhi, Dec 28 (NationPress) The Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, has leveled serious accusations against Aam Aadmi Party convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, alleging a planned illegal construction estimated at Rs 200 crore disguised as renovations for the Chief Minister's residence in north Delhi.

During a media briefing, Gupta, a senior leader of the BJP, asserted that eight Type-V flats located at 45 and 47 Rajpur Road, along with two bungalows (8-A and 8-B), were demolished and combined to form an extravagant “Sheesh Mahal” (glass house) for the former Chief Minister, spanning an extensive 10-acre area (approximately 50,000 square yards).

He pointed out that these demolished properties had previously served as accommodations for senior administrative officials.

Gupta took a jab at the AAP's self-proclaimed reputation for “honesty”, accusing Kejriwal of neglecting to obtain approval from any relevant authority for merging these seven government properties into the Chief Minister's residence. He highlighted that the demolished properties are still officially recognized as separate in government records, even though they have been absorbed into 6, Flag Staff Road – the official residence of the Delhi CM.

Furthermore, Gupta alleged that the illegal construction at this site was suddenly halted following the Opposition's exposure of the matter.

Present at the conference were BJP state spokespeople Shubhendu Shekhar Awasthi and Yasir Jilani.

The Leader of the Opposition claimed that the illegal renovations at the Chief Minister’s residence would have continued without interruption if the Opposition had not brought it to light. He mentioned that not only were there irregularities in the construction process, but also that crores of rupees were spent on lavish furnishings for the official residence.

According to him, these expenditures took place during a time when the nation was grappling with the pandemic. Gupta alleged that Kejriwal devised a new liquor policy that favored liquor cartels in exchange for acquiring luxurious items such as gold-plated commodes, Rs 28-lakh televisions, expensive curtains, luxury sofas, and reclining chairs for the ‘Sheesh Mahal’.

Gupta noted that these acquisitions occurred in 2022, as evidenced by comparisons of the PWD inventory lists from that year and 2024, after Kejriwal vacated the residence.

Findings from the PWD indicated significant discrepancies, revealing that the items in 2024 were nearly eight times the value of those originally listed in 2022.

He questioned the source of some of these items, suggesting that if they were not provided by the PWD, they might have been gifts from liquor cartels in exchange for undue advantages under the new liquor policy. He accused the policy of raising the liquor sales commission from 5 percent to 12 percent, with a considerable portion allegedly funding the lavish furnishings for the Sheesh Mahal.

Gupta asserted that complaints of corruption sent to the Central Vigilance Commission initiated an inquiry involving the Delhi Vigilance Department. The department instructed the principal secretary of the PWD to submit a report within five days, but no response has been forthcoming.

He alleged that the AAP government’s pressure on PWD officials has stalled the report. The vigilance inquiry aims to uncover details regarding who supplied the luxury items, what benefits they received in return, and whether official protocols were breached.

Gupta declared that once the investigation report is released, the public will uncover the “dark secrets” of Kejriwal’s administration, shattering the facade behind his decade-long image of “unwavering honesty.” He cautioned that Kejriwal would face repercussions for his actions, and the BJP intends to make this issue a central theme in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.