New Delhi: The former official residence of Delhi’s ex-Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, which became the centre of a prolonged political controversy and was widely dubbed the Sheesh Mahal by the Bharatiya Janata Party, is poised for a significant transformation. According to official sources, the Delhi Government is actively evaluating a proposal to repurpose bungalow number 6 on Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines into a dedicated state guest house. The envisioned facility is intended to accommodate visiting ministers and government officials on payment of prescribed charges, operating similarly to other state-run accommodations. The comprehensive proposal, which includes provisions for a designated parking area, a modern waiting hall, and other essential amenities, is currently awaiting final clearance from higher authorities.
Since Kejriwal vacated the premises following his departure from office, the expansive property has remained unoccupied, yet it continues to undergo daily maintenance. A dedicated staff of approximately ten individuals is currently deployed at the Civil Lines address to manage routine upkeep, which encompasses sweeping, cleaning, and operating various electrical appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioning units to ensure the infrastructure remains functional. Despite its vacant status, the bungalow continues to cast a long shadow over the political landscape of the capital due to enduring allegations of exorbitant public spending during its extensive remodelling. The Bharatiya Janata Party repeatedly targeted the former administration over the luxurious upgrades, cementing the Sheesh Mahal moniker in public discourse as a symbol of alleged fiscal extravagance.
The proposed repurposing of the property unfolds against the backdrop of multiple ongoing investigations into the initial renovation expenditures. In 2022, the Vigilance Department of the Delhi Government launched a formal inquiry into suspected irregularities and significant cost escalations associated with the Public Works Department’s execution of the project, acting upon direct instructions from the then Lieutenant Governor. Parallel to this administrative probe, the Central Bureau of Investigation is conducting its own comprehensive investigation into the financial aspects of the renovation, spurred by a formal complaint from Vijender Gupta, who served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly at the time. Should the current proposal receive the requisite green light, the heavily scrutinized property will assume a new, pragmatic role for the state government, even as the intricate probes into its controversial past continue to run their course
