New Delhi:

The Centre has ordered a probe into alleged irregularities in the renovation of the former official residence of ex-Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The investigation was ordered following the submission of a report by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) on February 13.

The CPWD has been directed to conduct a detailed inquiry into allegations that building norms were violated to construct the 6 Flagstaff Road Bungalow, an extravagant residence sprawling over 40,000 square yards (8 acres). The inquiry is expected to probe whether government regulations were bypassed to facilitate the construction of what the BJP has dubbed the “Sheeshmahal.”

On Monday, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva urged Lt Governor VK Saxena to annul the merger of four government properties with the 6 Flagstaff Road bungalow.

Mr Sachdeva, in a letter to Lt Governor Saxena, alleged that the bungalow’s expansion had been carried out through the unauthorised merger of four government properties. 

He also declared that once the BJP forms the government in Delhi, the newly elected Chief Minister will not occupy the bungalow.

The reconstructed bungalow served as Mr Kejriwal’s official residence from 2015 until October 2024. He vacated the premises after resigning as Chief Minister under intense political scrutiny from the BJP, which had made corruption a central theme of its electoral campaign for the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections.

The PWD report, released in October 2024, highlighted luxurious renovations and high-end appliances installed at the bungalow. This provided ammunition to the BJP in its campaign against the AAP leadership.

During a political rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a veiled attack on Mr Kejriwal, stating: “In the last 10 years, Delhi has been plagued by an ‘AAPda’. AAP has descended as a calamity on Delhi. I could have built a ‘Sheeshmahal’ too, but I chose to build more than 4 crore homes for the poor.”

Mr Kejriwal dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, accusing the BJP of using personal attacks to divert attention from its alleged failures in Delhi.

The BJP has, for over two years, relentlessly targeted Mr Kejriwal over allegations of corruption and misuse of public funds, particularly regarding the lavish renovations and extravagant interiors of the bungalow.

The campaign worked as the BJP ended AAP’s rule over the national capital to return to power after over 26 years. The BJP won 48 of the 70 assembly seats, AAP won 22 and the Congress scored a duck.

New Delhi:

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday targeted the BJP-led Union government for” deteriorating” law and order situation in the national capital.

AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has said that Delhi’s criminals no longer have any fear of law and order.

“Another morning with heartbreaking news. Bullets are being fired openly. Delhi’s criminals no longer have any fear of law and order,” Kejriwal said in a post on X.

Posting a picture of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, AAP on its official X account wrote, “Seeing Delhi bleeding, Mogambo is happy.”

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh gave suspension of business notice to discuss the deterioration of law and order situation, rise of crimes and threats to representatives in the national capital in the Rajya Sabha.

Sanjay Singh, in the motion filed to the Rajya Sabha Secretary General, wrote, “I would like to draw your attention to the increasing crimes in the country’s capital. The Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, ambassadors, and Members of Parliament, from both houses, all reside in Delhi.”

“The fire of the bomb blast in Prashant Vihar had not even cooled down when a school in Rohini received a threatening mail. Meanwhile, the brutal murder of an innocent child in Shalimar Bagh. Bomb threats were received in 44 schools in the capital, which has also adversely affected the reputation of Delhi. Earlier, a businessman was shot dead in broad daylight in Shahdara, which is an indication of the increasing morale of the criminals,” he stated.

He further mentioned the alleged attack on former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said, “The alleged attack on former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during his padyatra on 30-11-24 not only increased political tension but also exposed the shortcomings of public security Such incidents are happening in the country’s capital when the winter session of Parliament is in underway, which raises serious questions on the security arrangements in Delhi,” he stated.

Sanjay Singh has requested to discuss this serious issue under Rule 267.

Earlier, Delhi Police arrested two individuals after a man was shot and injured in the Kalyanpuri area of Delhi on Wednesday night. According to Delhi Police, “A man was shot last night in the Kalyanpuri area of Delhi and is currently hospitalised. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.” Police said that the man was shot due to a long-standing family feud spanning 10 to 15 years. Further details on the matter are awaited.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court on Monday refused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal immediate relief in his battle to overturn the High Court’s interim stay on a bail order issued last week by a lower court.

The court responded to Mr Kejriwal’s arguments – that the High Court erred in staying bail without fully reading the order, and rationale, of the lower court – by saying it would wait till the said order came on record, and the High Court had a chance to re-examine the stay – before ruling on his plea.

The court fixed Wednesday as the next hearing date; the High Court is expected to deliver its full verdict on Tuesday. “It is not proper to interfere when the High Court has reserved its judgement,” the Supreme Court said, “We will keep this petition for hearing for day after tomorrow.”

This was after Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate – which arrested Mr Kejriwal in the liquor policy case March and has opposed bail and medical relief claimed by the Chief Minister – said the High Court is likely to render its verdict within 24 hours.

Earlier the High Court paused Mr Kejriwal’s bail after a last-gasp challenge from the Enforcement Directorate – filed hours before he was to leave jail – that said the release order was “perverse”.

The High Court immediately put Mr Kejriwal’s release on hold pending further arguments.

On Sunday Mr Kejriwal challenged the stay in the Supreme Court.

“Not Flight Risk”: Kejriwal Asks For Bail

This morning, as the day’s (brief) hearing began, Mr Kejriwal’s lawyers argued that the “balance of convenience” is in the Chief Minister’s favour, reasoning there is no substantial reason for the AAP leader to stay in jail. “If bail is reversed, he will certainly go back to jail… as he did after the Supreme Court’s interim release (to campaign for the election),” senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi said.

He was referring to Mr Kejriwal’s release last month – allowed by the top court – to campaign for his party and the Congress-led INDIA bloc in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP was pegged back and forced to rely on its allies to form the government.

Mr Singhvi also referred to the top court’s order granting Mr Kejriwal that interim bail, in which it acknowledged the AAP leader is not a “habitual offender” and has no criminal antecedents.

“Why can’t I be free in the interim? I have a judgment in my favour…” he continued, responding to the court suggesting the Chief Minister be patient for 24-48 hours till the High Court reads its order.

“If we pass order now, we will prejudge the issue. This is not a subordinate court…” he was told.

Mr Kejriwal’s side argued strenuously the stay order should not be allowed to stand because the lower court’s order had not been released when the High Court listed the ED’s challenge.

“There was only an oral direction to not give effect to the bail order…” his camp pointed out.

“This (Mr Kejriwal’s regular bail order) is a discretionary order passed by a trial court for a person who was (already) released by this honourable court,” senior advocate Vikram Chaudhary said.

“Perverse Order Can Be Stayed”

The ED, however, stressed that a “perverse”, or incorrect, order can and should be stayed.

It also told the court that, in its opinion, the twin conditions for grant of bail under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, under which Mr Kejriwal has been charged, had not been met.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.