New Delhi: Ahead of the first meeting Tuesday of the National Capital Civil Service Authority — constituted by the central government via an ordinance — the Delhi government’s vigilance department issued show cause notices to seven Public Works Department (PWD) officials over alleged irregularities in renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence at 6, Flagstaff Road.
The notices were issued Monday to the chief engineers, among other PWD officials. ThePrint has seen a copy of the notices.
A senior Delhi government official said the engineers will have to explain acts done in “gross violation” of general financial rules and Central Vigilance Commission guidelines.
The BJP’s Delhi unit welcomed the notices, with its president Virendra Sachdeva terming the renovation as a “bungalow scam”.
“These notices will go a long way in bringing out the truth of the matter, as to on whose instructions the PWD carried out renovations and expansion of the CM’s bungalow without any proper tender and budgetary provisions. The day is not far when CM Kejriwal will himself face an inquiry in his bungalow scam,” he told the media Monday.
Last month, the Directorate of Vigilance had, in a report dated 12 May, flagged that the residence renovation work, which was started in 2020, entailed irregularities ranging from the felling and transplantation of trees to sanctions not being taken for the building plans.
It was also pointed out that the Delhi government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), had “spent Rs 52.71 crore” to renovate the official residence and camp office of the CM.
“The old structure was demolished without a survey report, and no building plans were sanctioned for the new structure constructed by the PWD,” the senior government official said.
The report, submitted to Lieutenant Governor (L-G) V.K. Saxena, also stated that two revised drawings regarding the interior design were done by an associate whose appointment was made on informal grounds.
Some of the items put in the chief minister’s residence, according to the report, included designer accessories and fittings worth Rs 48 lakh, artistic and ornamental work amounting to Rs 5 crore, marble work worth Rs 2.4 crore, and a sauna bath and jacuzzi worth Rs 20 lakh.
The senior government official said the renovation works were split in a manner to keep them below Rs 10 crore, for the “authorities to be bypassed by PWD officials under the influence of the chief minister”.
The vigilance department’s report also noted that additional changes in the house — involving the modular kitchen, laundry room and pantry — were initially not in the scope of work but were later added after a meeting between “Honourable CM Madam, Honourable PWD minister and a consultant”.
ThePrint reached the AAP spokesperson with queries on the matter but no response was received at the time of publishing this report. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
An AAP spokesperson had told ThePrint after the release of the 12 May report that “there is nothing in the report to say any crime was committed. This is the first time an official CM residence complex was created in Delhi comprising the CM’s residence, office secretariat, auditorium, staff quarters, etc”.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
Also Read: Delhi to bring back bike taxis, policy envisaging ‘100% EV cabs’ by 2030 open for public feedback