Rs 5.6-Crore Curtains To Fancy Installations: Inventory Of What BJP Calls 'Ex-Delhi CM Kejriwal’s Sheesh Mahal’

More revelations are coming out about the Delhi CM’s residence, which came to be called “Sheesh Mahal” for its grandeur and is being used against ex-CM Arvind Kejriwal. Delhi CM Atishi, however, has called it “dirty politics”.

The home was believed to be renovated with very expensive fittings and renovations, which was seen as defiance of norms to be followed by any CM and public servant. In fact, this became such a political war that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the former CM of not being an “aam aadmi” and misusing public funds.

There was controversy over the handing over of the Kejriwal residence on 5 Flag Road to CM Atishi Marlena by the Public Works Department (PWD) without taking stock as is the norm before handing it over to the new occupant.

Atishi in a post on X: “We live in the hearts of the people of Delhi. We will live on the streets and we don’t care about this dirty politics.”

THE INVENTORY

News18 has accessed the inventory list (see JPG below) of the house which Atishi moved into. Some of the details are as follows:

The total built-up area of the house is 21,000 square feet. The inventory shows some expensive fittings and renovations undertaken by Kejriwal. For example, window curtains operated with a motor have been put up costing Rs 4-6 crore.

There were 16 state-of-the-art TVs put up costing Rs 64 lakh.

Recliner sofas costing Rs 10 lakh, smart LED turntable downlights costing Rs 19.5 lakh, an oven in the kitchen costing up to Rs 9 lakh, superior water supply and sanitary installations costing Rs 15 crore, decorative pillars costing up to Rs 36 lakh. Toilet seats ranging between Rs 10-12 lakh.

THE ROW

The controversial bungalow was formally allotted to Atishi, two days after she was allegedly forcibly made to vacate it, officials said. They said the bungalow in Civil Lines has been formally allotted to Atishi after the completion of the due process of handover and preparation of the inventory. The bungalow was at the centre of an intense tussle involving the BJP and the lieutenant governor (LG) office after Kejriwal vacated it earlier this month.

The PWD letter stated that the bungalow was allotted to Atishi according to the provisions of the Delhi Administration Allotment of Government Residences (General Pool) Rules, 1977. The offer letter requested her submission of an acceptance duly forwarded with three copies of a family photo, within eight days after which she will be given an “authority slip” by the PWD to take possession of the bungalow.

The BJP, as expected, has jumped to attack the AAP and the former CM, accusing him of misusing taxpayers’ money while also neglecting the pressing concerns of the people of Delhi.

Ahead of polls early next year in Delhi, this is bound to embarrass the AAP and Kejriwal.