New Delhi: Two days after Delhi chief minister Atishi moved into the bungalow previously occupied by Arvind Kejriwal as his official residence, the Public Works Department (PWD) asked her to vacate the premises.
PWD officials have claimed that while Atishi was in possession of the house keys after Kejriwal vacated the house, she did not have an official allotment letter. A team of PWD officials reportedly visited the 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow around 11 am on Wednesday, and got the keys to the house from her by afternoon, the Indian Express reported.
The house has been sealed, officials said.
“For the first time in the history of the country, the Chief Minister has been asked to vacate her house. The L-G has forcibly removed CM Atishi’s belongings at the behest of the BJP. Preparations are underway on behalf of the L-G to allot the CM’s residence to a big BJP leader. The BJP, which has been in exile in Delhi for 27 years, now wants to capture the CM’s residence,” the chief minister’s office said.
The Directorate of Vigilance on Tuesday said that the “structure at 6, Flag Staff Road has never been earmarked as the official residence of the Chief Minister of Delhi.”
The vigilance department also issued a show-cause notice to three officials – special secretary to the chief minister and two section officers posted in the CMO during Kejriwal’s tenure – for not handing over the keys of the house to the PWD after Kejriwal vacated the property.
“The said structure/building at 6 Flag Staff Road has never been earmarked as the official residence of the Chief Minister of Delhi… The matter is under examination by the CPWD, CBI as well as Directorate of Vigilance, and the matter has not attained finality due to various aspects of irregularities allegedly committed in the demolition/alteration, addition/construction of a new bungalow…”
The notice refers to the controversy that broke out last year over alleged irregularities in the reconstruction of the bungalow in 2020-21.
Following the allegations, the vigilance department initiated an inquiry and 10 PWD officials faced disciplinary proceedings and suspension. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also investigating the matter.
As per the notice, Ramchandra M, additional Secretary to the chief minister, had issued a notice to PWD principal secretary on October 4 stating that the bungalow be allotted to Atishi. Kejriwal had assigned his section officer to carry out the required formalities related to vacating the residence and handing over the keys to the PWD.
“… the issue of irregularities committed in the construction of said bungalow is still under investigation and authorities concerned might have to take inventory of the said building and various items inside it… PWD wrote to the special secretary regarding this, but he has not handed over the keys despite directions,” the notice reads.
According to reports, the chief minister’s Camp office has also been shut down and the staff were asked to leave the premises.