Chandigarh, March 24
Former Education Minister and MLA Pargat Singh stated that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has exposed the self-proclaimed honesty of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its supremo Arvind Kejriwal. The CAG has uncovered massive cost escalations in the renovation of Kejriwal’s former official residence at 06, Flagstaff Road, Delhi—derisively called ‘Sheesh Mahal’.
“The audit reveals the project began with an approved allocation of ₹9.59 crore but the final cost ballooned to ₹33.66 crore—a staggering 342 per cent overrun, amounting to gross misuse of public funds. Pargat Singh demanded a similar CAG probe into the government bungalow constructed for Kejriwal in Punjab, which has featured in media reports with crores spent on it, urging full disclosure to expose further wastage of taxpayer money”, said Pargat.
Pargat highlighted how the CAG report details Kejriwal’s misuse of public funds. “As Chief Minister, he indulged in unprecedented privileges, despite previously decrying VIP culture and refusing government bungalows while living in a modest two-room private home before assuming power. Once in office, power corrupted him, leading to lavish expenditures on luxuries for himself and his family at public expense”, he said.
Patgat further said that according to the CAG, nearly ₹18.88 crore was squandered on high-end features, artistic, antique, and ornamental items at the ‘Sheesh Mahal’. “The report flags concerns over unnecessary public fund usage, procedural lapses including ₹9.34 crore in post-facto approvals, and diversion of funds allocated for staff quarters and infrastructure. It underscores major gaps in financial controls and budget adherence”, he added.
