Delhi CM Residence Renovation Row: CAG Conducting 'Special Audit' Into Financial Irregularities

The BJP had previously alleged that over Rs 45 crore had been spent on the "beautification" of the Delhi Chief Minister's official house.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Source : Twitter

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) will undertake a special audit into suspected administrative and financial irregularities in the restoration of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official house, L-G House officials said on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had recommended a special audit by the CAG in response to a letter dated May 24 from L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena, who had pointed out "gross and prima facie financial irregularities" in the reconstruction of the Chief Minister's official residence in the name of "addition or alteration."

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is conducting a 'special audit' into the alleged administrative and financial irregularities in the renovation of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence at 6, Flag Staff Road Civil Lines. The move follows a request by the…

— ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2023

The BJP had previously alleged that over Rs 45 crore had been spent on the "beautification" of the Delhi Chief Minister's official house in the city's Civil Lines district, and had sought his resignation on "moral" grounds.

According to BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, one of the eight new curtains acquired for the property cost more than Rs 7.94 lakh, while the least expensive was Rs 3.57 lakh. Patra, citing records, stated that pebbles worth more than Rs 1.15 crore were imported from Vietnam, while Rs 4 crore was spent on pre-fabricated wooden walls.

There was no immediate reply from the CM's office or the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, which has been at odds with the BJP over the matter since it first surfaced in April, PTI reported.

While the AAP said it was a decaying edifice erected in 1942 that needed repairs, the BJP suspected irregularities and demanded an investigation.

In a letter to the MHA dated May 24, LG Saxena stated that the "alleged irregularities" were highlighted by the media, following which Delhi's chief secretary filed a factual report on April 27 and again on May 12.

According to him, the reports highlighted "deviations, violations from rules, regulations, and guidelines" by the Public Works Department and the Delhi government "in the name of renovating the Chief Minister's residence."

According to the chief secretary's reports, the PWD carried out a full-fledged construction/re-construction of a new structure under the name of rehabilitation, according to the LG's letter.

The report also said that the Public Works Department did not determine ownership of the site before beginning work. "Initially the proposal was to provide additional accommodation in the residence of the Chief Minister, however later on the proposal was approved by the Minister for an entirely new construction after demolition of the existing building," it  was quoted by PTI in its report.

The initial cost for building work was Rs 15 to Rs 20 crore, according to the report, which added that it was periodically raised.

According to the report, a total of Rs 52,71,24,570 (roughly Rs 53 crores) has been spent to date, which is more than three times the initial estimate, according to the letter.

"Further, record show, that to avoid approvals from Principal Secretary (PWD) who has been delegated powers for giving financial sanction above Rs 10 crore, split sanctions of amount less than Rs 10 crore on every occasion were obtained convolutedly," the report said, according to the letter.

The report also noted "gross violations of the MPD-2021" or Master Plan for Delhi (MPD), which is the legislation of the land in areas of land and spatial development/redevelopment.

"To avoid obtaining approval of Competent Authority for felling/transplantation of trees of more than 10 numbers, as per Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, split approvals were taken five times for felling/transplantation of 9,2,6,6 and 5 i.e total 28 trees. This issue regarding violation of Environmental Laws is also pending before NGT," it said.

(With Inputs From ANI, PTI)