Panel tables first report on ‘Faansi Ghar’

Pradyuman Singh Rajput, Dwarka MLA and chairperson of the Delhi Assembly’s Committee of Privileges, on Tuesday tabled the committee’s first report in the House on the controversy surrounding the alleged existence of a ‘Faansi Ghar’ within the Delhi Assembly premises, recommending that the House consider appropriate action against senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders for repeatedly ignoring the panel’s summons.

The report names former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, former Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and former Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla, holding that their failure to appear before the committee despite multiple opportunities amounted to contempt of the House.

The controversy dates back to August 9, 2022, when a ceremony was organised within the Delhi Assembly complex during which a space was inaugurated and projected as a historic ‘Faansi Ghar’. The event was attended by Kejriwal as the chief guest, with Goel presiding, and Sisodia and Birla present as guests of honour. The site subsequently became a point of public and media interest, with delegations and visitors being taken there.

According to the report, after assuming office in February 2025, Speaker Vijender Gupta initiated steps to preserve the Assembly building as a heritage structure of national importance. During this process, the Assembly Secretariat sought historical verification of the ‘Faansi Ghar’ and found no documentary evidence supporting its existence. Information obtained from the National Archives instead suggested that the area had historically been used as a tiffin room.

The Speaker apprised the House of these findings on August 5, 2025, following which the matter was debated over three days. Subsequently, taking the sense of the House, the issue was referred to the Committee of Privileges for a detailed inquiry.

The committee said it issued letters on September 9, 2025, seeking written comments from Kejriwal, Sisodia, Goel and Birla on the authenticity of the ‘Faansi Ghar’. All four responded later that month, questioning the committee’s jurisdiction and denying any breach of privilege.

Formal summons were then issued, asking them to appear before the committee on November 13, 2025, with a warning that non-compliance could invite proceedings for breach of privilege or contempt of the Assembly. However, none of the four appeared on the scheduled date, nor did they send prior intimation.

The committee granted them another opportunity and rescheduled the hearing for November 20, 2025. Ahead of this sitting, Kejriwal and Sisodia approached the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the committee’s notices and summons. The court did not grant any interim relief and proceeded to hear arguments on maintainability.

Despite being informed that no court order restrained the committee from continuing its proceedings, none of the four appeared on November 20 either, citing the pendency of the case. The report notes that Goel and Birla had not even filed any petition at that stage but still sought deferral of proceedings.

The committee concluded that the four former office-bearers had “deliberately and wilfully” stayed away from the proceedings despite being fully aware of the legal position.

Citing provisions of the Government of NCT of Delhi Act, Assembly rules, parliamentary practice and a 2021 Supreme Court judgment upholding the powers of Assembly committees, the panel held that disobedience of committee summons constituted contempt of the House.

The committee recommended that the Assembly take appropriate action against Kejriwal, Sisodia, Goel and Birla for their wilful absence on November 13 and November 20, 2025. It also stated that the inquiry into the authenticity of the ‘Faansi Ghar’ would continue and a separate report on the substantive issue would be submitted in the next session.