New Delhi: The central vigilance commission has asked the central public works department (CPWD) to investigate the alleged irregularities in the reconstruction of chief minister's official residence at 6, Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines and submit a factual report. It acted on a complaint by the BJP MLA and the leader of the opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta.
In a communication to Gupta, the commission stated that his complaint was forwarded to the chief vigilance officer of CPWD, and based on the factual report, suitable action would be taken by the competent authority.
In his Oct 14 complaint, Gupta alleged that the public works department of Delhi govt, which reconstructed the bungalow on a nearly eight-acre area, flouted building regulations. He claimed that the construction disregarded approved limits for ground coverage and floor area ratio, and no approval for the layout plan was obtained from the competent authority.
Gupta also claimed that eight Type-V govt flats, which stood on plot numbers 45 and 47 on Rajpur Road and previously housed senior administrative officers and judges, were demolished and merged into the CM bungalow. He also alleged that two other bungalows, 8-A and 8-B on Flagstaff Road, were vacated and added to the premises.
"While tenders were invited for the addition and alteration of the existing structure, the entire building was reconstructed. Environmental norms were also flouted by felling many trees, and compensatory afforestation of 19,700 trees was not carried out," Gupta alleged further.
AAP said BJP-led central govt was free to conduct any investigation, as former CM Arvind Kejriwal and the entire party was "staunchly honest". "This is because of this unwavering honesty that he is the most popularly elected chief minister ever in the country," it said in a statement.
The party further said that BJP launched several investigations against AAP govt, targeting senior party functionaries, ministers and MLAs but failed to uncover "a single rupee of wrongdoing". "This is the strongest testament to our unwavering honesty. Instead of engaging in negative politics, BJP should focus on understanding people's problems and working towards real solutions," the statement read.
The bungalow currently lies vacant, with incumbent CM Atishi continuing to stay at the AB-17, Mathura Road residence despite 6, Flagstaff Road being allocated to her. Kejriwal vacated the house within days of resigning as the chief minister of Delhi.