Renovation of Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's official bungalow cancelled over 'administrative reasons'

The city's Public Works Department informed the Delhi government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, of the cancellation on Monday.

The PWD notification was issued three days after tenders were to be opened.

The tender was reportedly for electrical work, including the installation of 14 air conditioners, TVs worth Rs. 9 lakh, and light fittings worth an additional Rs. 6 lakh.

Gupta, a first-time MLA and surprise chief minister pick after the BJP's thumping win in February's election, had to wait for nearly 100 days to be allotted a bungalow as her official residence.

The allotment was finally made in early June in Delhi's Civil Lines area .

Gupta had chosen not to take the bungalow occupied by ex-Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, also in Civil Lines, after it became the focal point of the BJP's attack on the Aam Aadmi Party boss.

The BJP had dubbed the house a 'sheeshmahal' and accused Mr Kejriwal of spending crores of taxpayers' money on lavish refurbishments.

The reconstructed bungalow, spread across 40,000 square yards after the allegedly unauthorised merger of four government-owned parcels of land, served as Kejriwal's official residence from 2015 till October 2024, when he vacated after resigning his post.

A Central Public Works Department report released in October 2024 highlighted 'luxurious renovations' and installation of 'high-end appliances'.

The federal government then ordered a probe into the alleged irregularities and directed the CPWD to conduct a detailed inquiry.