New BJP CM won’t stay at ‘Sheesh Mahal’: Sources

The BJP wants separation of multiple properties which were merged into one to make the official residence of AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal at 6, Flag Staff Road, where he used to reside as the Chief Minister.

The newly elected BJP MLA from Rohini Vijender Gupta has written to LG VK Saxena, demanding immediate action against the alleged illegal construction and gross violations of rules at 6, Flag Staff Road, and urged that the property be restored to its original condition.

“The encroachments on adjacent government properties should be removed without delay,” Gupta said.

In his letter to the LG, Gupta alleged that Kejriwal transformed his official residence into a grand “Sheesh Mahal” using public funds, which was completely illegal and unethical. He said the modifications were carried out without any official approval or adherence to prescribed procedures.

‘Sheesh Mahal’ — a colloquial Hindi term for an opulent house — was coined by the BJP to allege a “big scam” in the renovation of CM’s official residence.

“The residence’s area was expanded from 10,000 sq m to 50,000 sq m, encroaching upon adjacent government properties,” Gupta said, alleging that the AAP government illegally incorporated eight Type-V flats at 45 and 47, Rajpur Road, as well as the government bungalows at 8A and 8B, Flag Staff Road, into the Chief Minister’s residential complex.

The BJP legislator demanded the immediate removal of these encroachments and called for the separation of 8A and 8B, Flag Staff Road, from the CM residence. He asserted that this was not just a violation of government regulations but also a blatant misuse of public funds.

Meanwhile, party sources said whosoever would become the Chief Minister in coming days will not acquire the same bungalow where Kejriwal was residing. Another leader said the party would make a museum at the place, however, the party is yet to take any official stand on it.

The Rohini MLA also demanded a detailed investigation into the Sheesh Mahal controversy and swift action on the complaint he had filed last year regarding this issue. He emphasised that the probe must be expedited so that “Delhi’s citizens can see how the so-called “honest” Arvind Kejriwal ruthlessly spent their hard-earned money on his extravagant palace”.