On Saturday (10th August), the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) suspended two engineers for alleged illegalities in the construction of the official residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The suspended engineers include Chief Engineer, Pradeep Kumar Parmar and Superintending Engineer, Abhishek Raj. According to officials, the duo were posted with the PWD of the Delhi government. They were instrumental in the construction of CM Kejriwal’s bungalow at 6 Flag Staff Road in the national capital.
The officials said, “These two engineers, along with five others, were responsible for the irregularities that included violation of rules and massive cost escalation in the name of superior modifications on the instructions of CM Kejriwal.”
It is pertinent to note that both the Engineers have been suspended on the recommendation of Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena. Additionally, it is important to note that Delhi PWD does not have its cadre, thus officials are posted and transferred by CPWD.
The officials added, “Out of the five other engineers, three have already been suspended on the directions of the LG, while a recommendation has been made to CPWD to initiate action against one engineer, who has now retired.”
Sheesh Mahal Newsbreak Impact#TimesNow report forces action: CPWD has suspended two engineers in connection with the construction and renovation of Chief Minister #ArvindKejriwal’s official residence
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) August 10, 2024
These two engineers, along with five others, were responsible for the… pic.twitter.com/ZzFNTBJq8A
The officials added that both the engineers – Parmar and Abhishek Raj – belong to the CPWD and are currently posted outside Delhi. Currently, Parmar is posted in Guwahati while Abhishek Raj is posted in Kharagpur.
Following the directions of the Delhi LG, VK Saxena, the Vigilance Department had requested the Director General of CPWD to suspend and initiate major penalties against Pradeep Kumar Parmar and Abhishek Raj.
The officials have alleged that the engineers colluded with the Minister (PWD). They allowed the construction of the new bungalow for Kejriwal “invoking an urgency clause, where no such urgency existed”, at a time when the country was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.
They added, “On one hand, the Finance Department was issuing orders on fiscal management and reduced expenditure due to the outbreak of the pandemic, on the other hand, Minister (PWD), in utter disregard of the circumstances, was hurrying the proposal for construction of the new house during the same period in the name of addition/alteration of the old house.”
The officials further stated, “Also, the DoV has put it on record that the demolition of the old building and construction of a new building and the disproportionate increase in expenditure was done on the directions of the Minister (PWD) and “Hon’ble CM Madam” leading to major changes in drawings of interiors submitted by the consultant which resulted in deviation in total amount paid & sanctioned amount of work.”
Citing the Vigilance department, the officials pointed out that crores of rupees were spent on superior specifications. This includes extra artistic and ornamental works, superior class stone floorings, superior wooden doors & automatic sliding glass doors, providing/ fixing of Vanity in Toilets, marble stone flooring, decorative interiors, decorative pillars, glass shower enclosure and doors, sheer curtains with fabric curtain track & motor with track curtains, wool carpets, wooden blinds, artistic mouldings, defogger glass in toilets and bathrooms, sliding and folding glass, sauna bath & Jacuzzi, they added.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating the matter.
Sheesh Mahal
According to media reports, the official bungalow of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in Civil Lines was renovated at a cost of almost Rs 45 crore. In its investigative reportage, “Operation Sheesh Mahal,” Times Now Navbharat reported that Rs 44.78 crore of taxpayer funds were utilised for the renovations, raising questions about the Aam Aadmi Party’s commitment to promoting austerity.
The channel obtained documents that indicate the curtains at Arvind Kejriwal’s residence were priced at around Rs 5-8 lakh per piece.
Following the disclosures about Kejriwal’s Sheesh Mahal, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress had launched scathing attacks on the Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal. They slammed Kejriwal citing his earlier tag claims that he would live in an ordinary house like a common man once he assumed power. However, AAP has been rejecting allegations of wrongdoing in constructing the Chief Minister’s official bungalow.
