NEW DELHI — The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Delhi Legislative Assembly postponed its scheduled site inspection of the 6, Flagstaff Road official residence—formerly occupied by ex-Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal—citing a serious breach of confidentiality and unauthorized leaks of committee proceedings.
The inspection, planned as part of an ongoing probe into financial irregularities flagged by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), was deferred after confidential records shared with panel members surfaced on social media platforms.
Procedural Objections & Privilege Motion
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Breach of Privilege: PAC Chairman and BJP MLA Ajay Mahawar announced that the committee would approach Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta regarding a breach of privilege, while also seeking formal legal counsel over the leak.
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Institutional Integrity: Refuting political allegations, Mahawar stated that the PAC functions as an independent constitutional body accountable solely to the Delhi Legislative Assembly, emphasizing that the panel “will not succumb to pressure.”
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Fresh Inspection Schedule: The committee will determine a new date for the physical inspection following procedural guidance and directions from the Assembly Speaker.
Core Financial Irregularities Under Scrutiny
The legislative panel is currently evaluating 18 key administrative and financial records linked to the expansion and refurbishment of the bungalow, focusing on specific CAG audit findings:
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Scope and Area Expansion: CAG findings indicate that the construction area expanded from 1,397 square meters to nearly 1,905 square meters, entailing an additional financial impact of approximately ₹18.88 crore.
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Interior & Architectural Outlays: The panel is reviewing authorization levels for high-cost interior fittings, including ₹45.90 lakh spent on curtains, specialized electrical works, and modular kitchens to verify whether requisite administrative sanctions were obtained.
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Tendering & Procurement Protocols: Scrutiny covers potential irregularities in vendor selection, focusing on why single-bidder scenarios occurred during the execution of primary contracts.
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Unexecuted Infrastructure: The committee is probing a ₹9.87 crore outlay allocated for a designated staff block that was reportedly not constructed as per original project blueprints, seeking accountability regarding the diversion of funds.
Political Counter-Claims
Responding to the deferral, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar alleged that the postponement was aimed at avoiding a public verification of the site, asserting that an open inspection would disprove the political claims made regarding the property’s features.
Kakkar further raised security concerns regarding unauthorized PWD vehicle movements at the site over the weekend.
The PAC maintained that its physical inspection remains an essential step in verifying CAG observations and will resume once procedural protocols are re-established.
