Kejriwal residence renovation: CAG to conduct ‘special audit’ into alleged irregularities

Arvind kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has come under the scanner of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which has decided to conduct a “special audit” into the alleged irregularities in the renovation of his official residence.

The CAG is undertaking a special audit into the alleged "administrative and financial irregularities in the renovation of the CM's official residence, located at 6, Flag Staff Road Civil Lines, New Delhi", Raj Niwas officials said.

The move comes after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recommended a special audit by the CAG, after taking note of the letter received from the Lieutenant Governor, which pointed out the "gross and prima facie financial irregularities" in the renovation of the CM's official residence. The term 'Hon'ble CM Madam' is in reference to Kejriwal's wife, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had earlier alleged.

Delhi L-G V K Saxena, in a letter sent to the MHA on May 24, said he had sought a report from Delhi's chief secretary after media reports pointed out the alleged irregularities in the matter.

The chief secretary submitted a factual report on the matter on April 27, and then again on May 12. The report detailed the alleged violations of rules, regulations and guidelines issued by the public works department (PWD), Saxena said.

The chief secretary's report highlighted a number of  "prima facie irregularities", Raj Niwas officials said, adding that in the name of renovation (addition/alteration), "full-fledged construction/re-construction of a new building was affected by PWD".

The ownership of the property was not ascertained by the PWD before commencing the construction, they claimed.

The initial cost for construction work was Rs 15-20 crore, "but the same was inflated from time-to-time" and as per the report, a total expenditure of approximately Rs 53 crore has been incurred to date, they added, pointing out that this is "more than three times the initial estimate".

Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party has so far refuted the charges of financial irregularities, stating that the CM's residence is more than 80 years old, and the renovation was recommended by the PWD after an audit.