‘Real cost of Sheesh Mahal ₹75-80 crore’: BJP slams ‘Advertisement baba’ Arvind Kejriwal

A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has flagged massive financial discrepancies in the ₹33.66 crore renovation of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence at 6, Flagstaff Road. The report highlighted that the expenditure exceeded the original estimate of ₹7.61 crore by 342.31%, raising concerns about transparency and prioritization during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the report, the renovation began in 2020 after the Public Works Department (PWD) proposed demolishing parts of the structure and adding a floor. The proposal, submitted on March 17, 2020, was approved within 24 hours. The tender was awarded for ₹8.62 crore, which was 13.21% higher than the initial proposed budget. The final cost reached ₹33.66 crore by 2022.

The renovation reportedly included luxury additions such as:

• An 88-inch OLED TV costing ₹28.9 lakh, along with 10 additional OLED TVs totaling ₹43.9 lakh.
• Spa facilities, including a jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room, costing ₹19.5 lakh.
• A high-end refrigerator priced at ₹3.2 lakh.
• ₹19.8 crore allocated for constructing seven servant quarters within the premises.

BJP leaders claimed that the total expenditure, including additional furnishings and inventories not covered in the CAG report, could be as high as ₹75-80 crore. The timing of the renovation during the pandemic, when public infrastructure projects were delayed due to financial constraints, has added to the controversy.

The BJP further criticized Kejriwal’s government for disproportionate spending on advertisements. For instance, in the 'Business Blasters' scheme, ₹54 crore was allocated for implementation, but ₹80 crore was spent on promotions. The BJP has labeled Kejriwal as “Advertisement Baba” for allegedly prioritizing publicity over governance.