NEW DELHI: The Delhi government is planning to convert the bungalow that served as Arvind Kejriwal‘s official residence during his tenure as chief minister into a state guest house, official sources told news agency PTI. According to a senior official, the proposal includes parking space, a waiting hall and other amenities. “The government is close to finalising a state guest house at bungalow no 6, which has been lying unoccupied as the former chief minister’s residence,” sources said. If approved, bungalow no. 6 on Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines will function like other state guest houses and will accommodate travelling ministers and government officials for a fee. The proposal is awaiting final approval from higher authorities, the sources added. Officials said around 10 staff members are currently deployed to maintain the bungalow. Their duties include daily sweeping and cleaning, as well as operating electrical appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners. The government has considered several options in recent months to repurpose the former chief minister’s residence, which drew widespread attention over its renovation during Kejriwal’s tenure. In 2022, the Delhi government’s vigilance department launched an inquiry on the directions of former Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena into alleged “irregularities and cost escalation in renovation of the house” by the Public Works Department during the revamp of the property. The BJP had dubbed the bungalow the “Sheesh Mahal” (palace of mirrors), alleging that the renovation reflected excessive luxury. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing the matter following a complaint by then Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta. He had written to Saxena in December 2024 alleging irregularities in the renovation of the bungalow.
