New Delhi: In the midst of a controversy over the expenditure of crores of rupees on the repair of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has ordered the officials to preserve the records of the expenditure and has sought a report on the matter within 15 days.
The BJP is attacking Kejriwal and AAP, claiming that Rs 45 crore was spent on renovation of Chief Minister’s residence 6, Flagstaff Road during 2020-22. AAP has hit back saying the BJP is trying to divert attention from the real issues by raising this issue. A Raj Niwas order issued on April 27 cited reports of alleged “gross irregularities” in the renovation of the housing by the PWD.
“The Lieutenant Governor taking note of these media reports and keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue, has desired that all relevant records in this matter be immediately secured and taken into protective custody. Thereafter, after scrutiny of the records , a factual report issued to the Chief Secretary, Government of Delhi, in the order stating that the matter be submitted within 15 days for the perusal of the Lieutenant Governor.
AAP leaders including Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha have defended Kejriwal, citing expenditure on the residences of the prime minister and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states.
Documents provided by sources show that against the sanctioned amount of Rs 43.70 crore, a total of Rs 44.78 crore was spent on “addition/alteration” of the official residence of the Delhi Chief Minister. The documents show that this amount was spent between September 2020 and June 2022 in six trenches.
According to the documents, the total expenditure includes Rs 11.30 crore for interior decoration, Rs 6.02 crore for stone and marble flooring, Rs 1 crore for interior consultancy, Rs 2.58 crore for electrical fittings and appliances, Rs 2.85 crore for fire fighting system, Rs 2.85 crore for building and construction of building materials, Rs. 1.41 crore on wardrobes and accessories fitting and Rs 1.1 crore on kitchen appliances.
It shows that out of the sanctioned amount of Rs 9.99 crore, Rs 8.11 crore was spent separately on the camp office at the chief minister’s residence.