BJP writes to LG to halt 'sheesh mahal' expansion, fast-track probe

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday wrote a letter to lieutenant governor VK Saxena, urging him to cancel the merger of four properties with "sheesh mahal", the ex-residence of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal who stayed there as Delhi chief minister.

During the Delhi assembly polls, the BJP unabashedly tagged the CM's house as "sheesh mahal" to attack Kejriwal over the "huge expense" incurred for the bungalow's renovation, which included opulent amenities like a sauna and jacuzzi.

In a letter to Saxena, BJP's Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva asked for cancelling the merger of those four properties that were meant to expand the CM's house.

Sachdeva also said that the new government to be formed by the BJP will take a call regarding future use of the bungalow and added "The next chief minister of Delhi will not stay in it."

Vijendra Gupta, newly elected BJP MLA from Rohini, also said that the CM of BJP will not live in the bungalow as it was under investigation over alleged irregularities.

The Rohini MLA also requested the LG to expedite the ongoing probe into these alleged violations, saying swift action is crucial for ensuring accountability and restoring public trust in government institutions.

Gupta said that the land of the demerged properties would be used for other official purposes like the construction of government quarters.

Kejriwal transformed the bungalow into "an ultra-luxurious 'Sheesh Mahal' by "illegally annexing" neighbouring government properties, Gupta wrote to the LG.

"The scope of these unauthorized alterations is particularly concerning. What was meant to be a standard official residence has been transformed into a lavish complex spanning more than 50,000 square meters," he charged in the letter, according to news agency PTI.

He said that the merged properties included eight Type-V flats at 45 and 47 Rajpur Road, and the two government bungalows (8-A and 8-B Flag Staff Road) with the 6, Flagstaff road bungalow (CM's house).

"I urgently request your intervention to restore these properties to their original independent status and return 6-lag Staff Road to its previous area of less than 10,000 square meters," he said.