New Delhi, March 25 – Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma on Wednesday targeted the previous AAP government and then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over gross violations in the construction of a sprawling mansion, widely known as 'Sheesh Mahal', as well as the destruction of green cover for its construction.
He specifically pointed to the "expensive and luxurious purchases" made by the previous dispensation, alleging large-scale irregularities in awarding contracts and procuring accessories for the luxurious building.
In a dramatic exposé, the minister presented a long list of luxurious items bought for 'Sheesh Mahal', the residence of then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, detailing how various items, including furniture, sofas, tables, and recliners, were purchased at exorbitant prices.
He also showed photographs of the site, purportedly a green belt, where 'Sheesh Mahal' was built for the former Delhi Chief Minister.
"All those trees were cut down, and 'Sheesh Mahal' was erected," said Verma, showing pre- and post-construction pictures of the site.
Speaking in the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday, the PWD Minister claimed that hundreds of trees were felled to make way for the palatial mansion (Sheesh Mahal) for the AAP supremo, who called himself "aam aadmi" (common man) but chose to live in a king-size, ultra-luxurious villa.
Taking the previous AAP government to task, Parvesh Verma claimed multiple violations in raising the structure, ranging from issuing tenders to awarding contracts and procuring luxurious ornaments for the villa.
"All types of approvals, including preparing price estimates and the signatures of all concerned engineers, were completed in a single day. It's astonishing that when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted every aspect of administrative functioning, all the approvals were given in one day," Verma told the House.
He said that the orders for the construction of 'Sheesh Mahal' were issued precisely when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak.
The directive was issued to build a palace, and it was explicitly marked as "most urgent", he said while expressing shock and surprise over why the AAP government never marked any public development work – even tasks like sewer cleaning – in the same category as 'Sheesh Mahal'.
"Delhi has faced two disasters: the first was COVID-19, and the second is the Aam Aadmi Party," the BJP leader lashed out, making a pointed remark.
Calling out the AAP convenor's double standards, Parvesh Verma further said, "When the AAP chief became Chief Minister, he took an oath promising not to accept any government vehicle or bungalow. However, immediately after taking the oath, he misled the people of Delhi. Within just 20 days, he shifted to a bungalow on Flagstaff Road."
Parvesh Verma further claimed that adjacent to 'Sheesh Mahal', another plot of 4,000 square yards was under consideration for erecting 'Sheesh Mahal 2'.
"Work had commenced there, but in the subsequent elections, the AAP govt was voted out of power, and therefore work stopped; otherwise, another Rs 60 crore would have been spent," he claimed.