Delhi political turmoil: PWD confirms allotment of 6 Flagstaff Road residence to CM Atishi with ongoing CBI investigation

Following the completion of the inventory, the Public Works Department (PWD) formally assigned Delhi Chief Minister Atishi the home at 6 Flagstaff Road on Oct 11, just days after requesting her to vacate and sealing the property, according to officials.

“Director of Allotment, PWD, is pleased to offer General Pool Bungalow to Atishi, Chief Minister, GNCTD... The allottee is requested to arrange to submit acceptance duly forwarded and verified... to this office in eight days from the date of issue of the letter...” reads the allotment letter.

“Since the said house is under investigation by CBI/other agencies for various violations, the allottee is advised to extend full cooperation in the investigation, as may be required,” the letter added.

According to a senior PWD official, “Now, the CM will have to fill out the allotment form. The department will then issue an authority slip.”

Within the time frame specified on the authority slip, Atishi is required to take possession of the designated residence. Officials said that the allotment would be deemed canceled if it was not completed within the allotted period.

The dispute surrounding the chief minister's residence has sharply escalated in recent days. While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) maintained that Atishi moved in after attending to procedures, the PWD claimed that there hasn't yet been an official "handover" of the house from former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to the department.

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation and a Vigilance Department inquiry are also ongoing about the property due to purported irregularities in the building's renovation.

The AAP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) House engaged in a heated argument during the incident.

The AAP claimed on Oct 11 that “all due procedures were followed during the handover of the CM Residence... The BJP’s negative politics, aimed solely at disrupting the progress of Delhi and tarnishing AAP’s image, has once again come to the forefront.”

“Their baseless accusations and anti-women mentality were evident in the shameful actions of the Lieutenant Governor, who, driven by vendetta, irresponsibly removed the belongings of a sitting woman Chief Minister from her residence,” it added.

"Nobody was above the law," the BJP had before questioned about the haste with which the home was to be shifted on October 11.

“The question arises as to why an attempt was made to circumvent the established protocol in the allocation of ‘Sheesh Mahal’. This attempt has arisen from the fear of investigation and accountability of former Chief Minister Kejriwal and the AAP government. The ‘Sheesh Mahal’, worth Rs 150 crore, is a living example of AAP’s corruption; Kejriwal himself knows this,” alleged Vijender Gupta, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly.

Atishi would need to leave her current residence at AB-17 Mathura Road within 15 days of assuming ownership of the new house/bungalow, according to the PWD.

“If the allottee makes any unauthorized construction in the bungalow at any time, the allotment is liable to be cancelled in addition to payment of applicable damages, etc. The allottee is responsible for any damages beyond reasonable wear and tear... for the period remaining in the residence allotted or until the bungalow has been vacated/full vacant possession has been given to the government...” reads the letter.