Kejriwal saw himself as emperor, people as slaves: CM Rekha
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday tabled a detailed account in the State Assembly, alleging serious financial irregularities in the construction of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence, and said those who built a ‘Sheesh Mahal’ in Delhi have now moved into what she described as a ‘Sheesh Mahal-2’ in Punjab.
She accused Kejriwal of behaving like an emperor, claiming he saw himself as a ruler while treating the people of Delhi as slaves. At her request, the House referred the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for a detailed probe.
Rekha Gupta stressed that the issue was not merely about bricks, furniture or interiors, but about exposing what she called a ‘well-planned deception’ that had been hidden for years.
According to her, the report reflects a deeper moral decline, where a leader who projected himself as a representative of the common man allegedly embraced a lifestyle of excess and entitlement.
Quoting a couplet, she remarked, ‘Wo zahar deta to sabki nigah mein aa jaata, usne yoon kiya ki dava dena band kar diya’ (Had he given poison, it would have been obvious; instead, he chose to withhold the medicine).
Questioning Kejriwal’s image of simplicity, she pointed out that he had once criticised former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for having 10 air conditioners but allegedly built a residence equipped with 50 ACs and 70 fans.
She also raised concerns over the timing, noting that while Delhi was battling the COVID-19 pandemic and people were losing their lives, the construction of the residence continued.
The Chief Minister further alleged that the property included high-end features such as a lift costing several lakhs just to transport food, premium refrigerators and imported coffee machines.
She said as many as six private consultants were hired for different aspects of the project, including interiors, furniture and landscaping. She questioned how the project cost escalated from an initial Rs 8 crore to Rs 62 crore, calling it a matter that warrants thorough investigation.
Presenting a detailed list of figures in the House, the Chief Minister said that this display of extravagance was not limited to Arvind Kejriwal alone. His associates also allegedly misused public money extensively. She stated that Manish Sisodia spent Rs 7.5 crore of public funds on his residence.
Similarly, Rs 2.33 crore was spent on the renovation of Rakhi Birla’s residence, while former Speaker Ram Niwas Goel spent Rs 3.23 crore. Former minister Gopal Rai spent Rs 2.55 crore, Satyendar Jain Rs 2 crore, and Imran Hussain and Rajendra Pal Gautam spent Rs 3 crore each on upgrading their homes.
Additionally, Saurabh Bharadwaj spent Rs 1 crore of public money on improvements to his residence.
She argued that at a time when Delhi needed investment in roads, flyovers and core infrastructure, the government was focused on creating ‘world-class’ interiors for official residences. The promise of simplicity, she said, remained only a slogan, while the reality reflected a culture of extravagance.
Rekha Gupta further alleged that the residence was never opened to the public and was not used for public hearings, adding that ordinary citizens had no access. “Those who claimed they would change politics only ended up changing their homes,” she said.
The Chief Minister assured that her government would ensure every rupee of public money is spent on development. She called for strict action against those found guilty, and the House unanimously approved her proposal to refer the matter to the Public Accounts Committee for further investigation.
