How much did Arvind Kejriwal's bungalow renovation cost? 'Sheeshmahal' controversy explained

The remodelled bungalow of Delhi Chief Minister located at 6, Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines in Delhi. (Image:X/Tajinder Bagga)

As Delhi gears up for its highly anticipated Assembly elections, a controversy simmering for years has exploded into a full-blown political storm. In the eye of the storm are the alleged procedural lapses and cost escalations in the renovation of the Delhi Chief Minister’s residence, located at 6, Flag Staff Road.

Dubbed "Sheesh Mahal" by the BJP, the residence has become a lightning rod for accusations and counteraccusations, with BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, making it a central issue in their poll campaign against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

When did this issue come to light?

The genesis of the dispute can be traced back to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 when structural issues at the CM's residence came to light. Constructed in 1942 and owned by the Public Works Department (PWD), the house, with five bedrooms and a separate office space, had served as the official residence of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal since 2015.

However, during repairs, the roof of a toilet collapsed, prompting a structural safety audit and eventual renovation plans. In March 2020, the then-PWD minister, Satyendar Jain, deemed the remodelling of the ground floor and the addition of another storey as "most urgent". By July 2020, authorities decided fresh construction was necessary, citing the building's old load-bearing walls as a limiting factor.

CAG , ... , CAG - . @sambitswaraj pic.twitter.com/vz3z3L5ybN
BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) January 6, 2025

BJP-AAP trade blows

The BJP has alleged that the construction activities during the 2020 national lockdown were a violation of prohibitions in place at the time. In May 2023, the controversy gained traction when senior Congress leader Ajay Maken filed a complaint. Subsequently, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena ordered an inquiry into the alleged irregularities and extravagant expenses.

By September 2023, the CBI initiated a preliminary inquiry into the matter. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) suspended three engineers in August 2024 for alleged illegalities, which the AAP termed a "witch-hunt".

In October 2024, Kejriwal vacated the house, days after stepping down as CM following his release on bail in the excise policy case. The PWD reclaimed the property. Atishi, who succeeded Kejriwal as CM, opted not to move into the residence.

Earlier today (January 8), AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed they were prevented from entering the Delhi Chief Minister's official residence, where they had invited the media for a tour to counter the BJP's "Sheesh Mahal" allegations.

Audit report on renovation expenses

On December 11, 2024, the BJP escalated its attack by releasing purported "tour videos" of the residence’s interiors. PM Modi, at a recent rally in Rohini, said, "How deceitful these (AAP) people are is exemplified by their Sheesh Mahal."

The BJP’s poll campaign paints the residence as a symbol of AAP’s alleged hypocrisy and extravagance, particularly given the purported cost escalation. Initially estimated at Rs 7.91 crore, the renovation expenses ballooned to Rs 33.66 crore, as per a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report findings, according to media reports.

Other items reportedly purchased include Rs 96 lakh worth of curtains, Rs 66.89 lakh worth of marble for walls and Rs 16.27 lakh worth of silk carpets.

Gym equipment reportedly worth over Rs 18 lakh and sofa worth over Rs 6 lakh were also part of the expenses, as per the findings.

The audit report, yet to be tabled in the Delhi Assembly, was signed off by former Comptroller and Auditor General Girish Chandra Murmu who reportedly signed off on the report just a week before he demitted office on November 20, 2024.

Details of the report have not been made public and are based on the findings quoted by the BJP citing multiple media reports.

AAP denies, counters BJP

The AAP has vehemently defended the renovation, emphasizing the dilapidated state of the house and the safety concerns for Kejriwal’s elderly parents and young children. AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha argue that the repairs were necessary and justified.

"The people of Delhi do not care about this issue at all," an AAP leader contended, accusing the BJP of resorting to personal attacks in the absence of a clear electoral vision.

AAP also pointed out that the residence is a government property, not Kejriwal’s personal asset, and will be allotted to future CMs.

While BJP leaders frame the renovation as emblematic of AAP’s alleged misuse of public funds, AAP counters by accusing the BJP of orchestrating a smear campaign to divert attention from Delhi’s pressing issues, including law and order.

The timing of the controversy’s resurgence—on the eve of the Assembly elections—also underscores its political significance. With Kejriwal’s once-unassailable popularity taking hits from the excise policy scandal, the BJP sees an opportunity to weaken AAP’s stronghold in Delhi.