LG to chief secy: Get records of work at Kejriwal’s house
Amid reports that ₹44.78 cr has been spent on renovating CM’s house, Saxena directed the chief secy to submit a report in 15 days
NEW DELHI: In the wake of reports that ₹44.78 crore has been spent on renovating the residence of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, lieutenant governor (LG) VK Saxena has directed chief secretary Naresh Kumar to secure all relevant records, examine them, and submit a report within 15 days for the perusal of the LG, according to a letter by the LG’s office.
“This has reference to various media reports, published in both electronic and print media, on alleged gross irregularities committed while carrying out the renovation of No.6 Flag Staff
House, Civil Lines (the official residence of the Delhi CM) by PWD. LG, while taking note of media reports and keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue, has desired that all relevant records in this matter be immediately secured and taken into protective custody. Subsequently, after the records are examined, a factual report in the matter be submitted within 15 days for the perusal of the LG,” said a letter written by the Principal Secretary to LG, dated April 27. HT has seen a copy of the letter.
Despite repeated attempts, chief secretary Naresh Kumar could not be reached for a comment.
HT reported on Saturday that the details of ₹44.78 crore spent by the Public Works Department (PWD) on renovations at the CM’s house may be examined by authorities to check if the expenditure was in violation of laid down rules.
The Delhi government did not offer a comment to the letter on Saturday. However, on Wednesday, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the renovation was necessitated because the CM’s residence was constructed 80 years ago and there had been three incidents of parts of roof collapse in the house after which the Public Works Department (PWD) recommended rebuilding the house.
A PWD official confirmed to HT that the details of the expenditure have been sought from them. However, the official did not reveal which agency has sought the details.
A senior Delhi government official who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Further action will depend on the findings during the examination of the expenditure.”
The reports have led to a fresh political war of words between the Opposition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling AAP. The BJP has alleged that Kejriwal, while claiming to be a common man, lives like a “king”. The AAP has hit back at these allegations by raising expenditure on repairs of official residences of Delhi LG and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a joint press conference on Saturday, BJP MP from North East Delhi Manoj Tiwari and the leader of Opposition in the Delhi assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri alleged irregularities in renovations at the CM’s house.
“There are irregularities in the renovation work and they will be exposed. If CM Kejriwal has not committed any corruption, then why does he not allow the media to check renovations at his house,” said Tiwari.
Bidhuri said the AAP has a habit of dismissing all allegations. “When allegations were levelled against former deputy CM Manish Sisodia and minister Satyendar Jain, Kejriwal gave them clean chit. Now they are in jail and unable to get bail. Soon Arvind Kejriwal will also be seen inside jail,” Bidhuri said.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva claimed the expenditure on renovations at CM’s house was done in violation of government financial rules (GFRs). “Multiple tenders were issued to bypass the approval of the engineer in chief and the PWD secretary,” Sachdeva said in a statement.
The AAP has dismissed the allegations. An AAP spokesperson said that the BJP should understand that they are talking about the official residence of Delhi’s chief minister, and not a personal property of Arvind Kejriwal.