New Delhi

Delhi minister Parvesh Verma on Thursday criticised former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, likening him to a character from the film Dhurandhar while accusing him of misusing public funds to build a lavish residence, often referred to as a “Sheesh Mahal”.

Verma alleged that during his tenure, Kejriwal made grand promises to the public but diverted government money for personal use. He claimed that the people of Delhi ultimately rejected such leadership, asserting that voters defeated him despite his perceived confidence in retaining power.

Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also targeted Kejriwal over the same issue, accusing him of crossing “all limits of corruption” by allegedly spending large sums of public money on the renovation of his official residence.

The controversy centres around claims that significant funds were used to upgrade Kejriwal’s bungalow during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when several public projects were reportedly put on hold. Kejriwal, who stepped down in September 2024, vacated the Civil Lines residence the following month.

READ MORE: Pilot Hana Mohsin Khan defies social and religious stereotypes

Meanwhile, Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bhardwaj criticised the current government, alleging that it has pushed the national capital into debt of nearly ₹20,000 crore—something he said had not happened in the city’s history before.