New Delhi, March 23 The renovation work at the former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal's, official residence, 6 Flagstaff Road, was completed for ₹33.66 crore, 342 percent above the estimated cost, according to a CAG report tabled in the Delhi Assembly on Monday.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for 2022, presented to the Assembly by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, also mentioned that out of the ₹33.66 crore, ₹18.88 crore was spent on "items of superior specifications, artistic, antique, and ornamental" nature.
The Flagstaff bungalow, where Kejriwal lived as Delhi Chief Minister from 2015 to 2024, was nicknamed by the BJP as "Sheesh Mahal" to highlight the alleged corruption by the Aam Aadmi Party and its national convener during the Assembly elections held in February 2025. The BJP ousted the AAP from power in Delhi after a decade.
The report also listed various irregularities in providing additional accommodation at the bungalow, as well as additions and alterations in the Camp office and Staff Block there, by the Public Works Department (PWD).
Administrative approval and expenditure sanction amounting to ₹9.34 crore were granted more than two months after the completion of the work, creating a liability without any approval, it said.
Further, the CAG report said that the audit noted that out of ₹19.87 crore sanctioned for the construction of the Staff Block and Camp Office, funds were diverted for other works. The Staff Block was not constructed, and out of the funds, seven servant quarters were constructed at another location not related to the original work.
The nature of the Camp Office was altered from a permanent to a semi-permanent structure (SPS). Finally, only a raw structure of the Camp Office was completed as the funds for the same were exhausted, and the PWD initiated foreclosure of the work in June 2023, said the CAG report.
In the work of additions/alterations to the then CM residence, the PWD prepared preliminary estimates (PE) of ₹7.91 crore by adopting the Plinth Area Rates, published by the Central Public Works Department for Type VII and VIII accommodation/Bungalows.
"The work was declared urgent by the PWD. Although the work was awarded at ₹8.62 crore, which was 13.21 percent above the estimated cost, it was finally completed at ₹33.66 crore, which was 342.31 percent above the estimated cost," the report said.
Audit observed that during work execution, the PWD increased the built-up area from 1,397 sqm to 1,905 sqm (36 percent) and also altered the applicable specifications of the work by using several items of superior specifications, artistic and antique items, ornamental works, both civil and electrical in nature, it said.
The PWD revised the preliminary estimates four times for covering the cost. Further, it also did not explore the possibility of tendering for additional work, as such a single contractor executed works amounting to ₹25.80 crore, it added.