Kejriwal’s bungalow facelift cost Rs 33.6 crore, 342% above estimate: CAG report

NEW DELHI: Renovation enactment astatine erstwhile Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's past authoritative residence (6, Flagstaff Road), was completed with Rs 33.6 crore, 342% supra the estimated cost, said a CAG study tabled successful the assembly connected Monday.The Comptroller and Audition General study for 2022, tabled successful the assembly by CM Rekha Gupta, besides mentioned that retired of the full 33.6 crore, an magnitude of Rs 18.8 crore was spent connected "superior specifications, artistic, antique and ornamental" items. The 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow was wherever Kejriwal lived arsenic CM from 2015 to 2024. After allegations of corruption, BJP termed the location "Sheesh Mahal" to deed retired astatine alleged corruption of AAP and its nationalist convener.

‘PWD utilized 1-yr-old rates, raised them by 50%’'Sheesh Mahal' became 1 of the main issues of BJP up of the predetermination successful Feb 2025 that led to upstaging AAP and removing it from powerfulness successful Delhi aft a decade.According to the findings, Public Works Department (PWD) adopted restricted tendering successful aggregate stages of the task without capable justification. In the lawsuit of consultancy services, nary ground was made disposable for the enactment of 3 firms invited for bidding.

Additionally, portion calculating the justified cost, PWD utilized one-year-old rates and accrued them by 50%, resulting successful higher estimated costs.During execution, 5 contractors were shortlisted connected the grounds of fiscal capableness and acquisition successful akin works successful VIP areas. However, scrutiny revealed that lone 1 contractor met the stated criteria, raising concerns implicit the arbitrariness of the enactment process.The scope of enactment besides saw important changes during execution. The built-up country accrued from 1,397 sq m to 1,905 sq m a emergence of 36%. Alongside this, respective items of superior specifications, creator and antique elements, and ornamental works were introduced, it read. The study notes that Rs 18.8 crore was incurred connected specified other items, executed beyond prescribed limits, without recorded justification.To accommodate these additions, preliminary estimates were revised 4 times.

Work amounting to Rs 25.8 crore nether consequent estimates was executed done the existing contractor without exploring caller tendering options, thereby limiting competitory rates, it said. In different instance, support for the 5th revised estimation amounting to Rs 9.3 crore was issued much than 2 months aft the completion of the work, resulting successful the instauration of liability without anterior approval.The 2nd task concerning the Staff Block and Camp Office was awarded astatine Rs 16.5 crore against an estimated outgo of Rs 18.4 crore and was besides executed done restricted tendering.

However, records explaining the reasons for adopting this method were not made available.Out of Rs 19.8 crore sanctioned for the Staff Block and Camp Office, funds were diverted to different works. The Staff Block itself was not constructed, portion 7 servant quarters were built astatine a antithetic determination unrelated to the archetypal project.Further, the Camp Office was altered from a imperishable operation to a semi-permanent one, rendering the archetypal approvals and estimates inconsistent with the enactment executed. The study states that lone the earthy operation of the Camp Office was completed, arsenic funds were exhausted, and the enactment was yet foreclosed successful June 2023.