No car, no house: Kejriwal declares Rs 1.73 crore assets in poll affidavit
Arvind Kejriwal, the convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), does not own a house or a car, has no liabilities, but faces 14 pending criminal cases, six of which are for defamation.
Kejriwal, contesting from the New Delhi constituency, filed his nomination on Wednesday for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. His affidavit reveals total assets of Rs 1.73 crore, including Rs 40,000 in cash and a 2,400-sq-foot flat in Ghaziabad valued at Rs 1.7 crore. Combined with his wife Sunita Kejriwal, the couple’s assets total Rs 4.23 crore.
Interestingly, Kejriwal has no investments in fixed deposits, shares, mutual funds, or insurance policies, while his wife has Rs 26 lakh invested in mutual funds.
The affidavit also highlights a significant decline in Kejriwal’s income since becoming Chief Minister of Delhi for the third time in 2020. His income tax return (ITR) for 2023-24 shows an annual income of Rs 7.21 lakh, a sharp drop from Rs 44.9 lakh in 2020. Meanwhile, Sunita Kejriwal’s income has increased modestly over four years, from Rs 11.41 lakh in 2020-21 to Rs 14.1 lakh in 2024-25.
Kejriwal’s politics has long been centred on his image as a “common man”, reflected in the name of his party and his simple attire, including loosely fitted shirts and a muffler. However, his reputation has faced challenges in recent years.
The AAP leader has been embroiled in controversies, including allegations of renovating his official residence at an escalated cost —dubbed the “Sheesh Mahal” by opposition parties — and the Delhi excise policy case, which allegedly caused a Rs 2,000 crore loss to the exchequer.
As the 56-year-old leader prepares for the upcoming elections, his “clean and corruption-free” image faces a crucial litmus test.
