A ‘Common Man’ Facade, Royal Luxury Within: CM Rekha Gupta Targets ‘Sheesh Mahal’ Row

Kejriwal Saw Himself as the ‘Shahanshah-e-Alam’, People as Subjects: CM Rekha Gupta

CAG Report on ‘Sheesh Mahal’ Sparks Storm in Assembly; PAC to Probe

50 ACs, Imported Coffee Machines, Crores Spent on Consultants Under Scanner

New Delhi, March 2026 : Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta on Wednesday tabled a detailed account in the Assembly, alleging serious financial irregularities in the construction of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence, widely referred to as the ‘Sheesh Mahal.’ Launching a sharp attack, Gupta 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 subjects. At her request, the House referred the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for a detailed probe.

A ‘Document of Moral Decline’

During the discussion, Gupta struck an emotional yet combative tone, saying the Assembly had once again been reminded of the hardship imposed on citizens under the previous government. 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). She 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.

Simplicity vs. Extravagance

Questioning Kejriwal’s image of simplicity, Gupta 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, 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 ₹8 crore to ₹62 crore, calling it a matter that warrants thorough investigation.

Public Money Spent on Aides

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 ₹7.5 crore of public funds on his residence. Similarly, ₹2.33 crore was spent on the renovation of Rakhi Birla’s residence, while former Speaker Ram Niwas Goel spent ₹3.23 crore. Former minister Gopal Rai spent ₹2.55 crore, Satyendar Jain ₹2 crore, and Imran Hussain and Rajendra Pal Gautam spent ₹3 crore each on upgrading their homes. Additionally, Saurabh Bharadwaj spent ₹1 crore of public money on improvements to his residence.

‘Rules Were Not Bent, They Were Crushed’

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. 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.

PAC Probe Ordered

Concluding her address, 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.

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi presented the Budget for F.Y. 2026–2027.

The Delhi Budget has been made accessible to citizens through the Delhi Budget Mobile App, developed by NIC, enabling a paperless budget presentation.

Through the app, citizens can seamlessly access key budget documents such as the Budget Speech, Annual Financial Statement, Appropriation Bill, Economic Survey, and department-wise summaries of DDG (Detailed Demands of Grants) , all in one place.

The mobile app is available for download on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, ensuring easy access for all users.

This initiative empowers citizens with easy, anytime access to important financial information, promoting greater awareness and participation in governance.