Row over Delhi CM’s phone allowance cap: Kejriwal, Sisodia bought high-end devices during AAP’s rule, says minister

On July 9, the General Administration Department in Delhi revised the ceiling for purchase of mobile handsets — for the chief minister, the upper limit is Rs 1.50 lakh, while it is Rs 1.25 lakh for the ministers — after 12 years.

On Thursday, senior BJP leader and Power Minister Ashish Sood shared phone bills and receipts of mobile phones purchased by former CM Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and other ministers — amounting to lakhs and exceeding the allocated reimbursement limits.

Waving some documents, Sood said that as per the 2013 order, the cap for purchasing a phone set for the CM was Rs 50,000 while it was Rs 45,000 for the ministers. He alleged that the then chief ministers Kejriwal, Atishi and ministers Sisodia, Bharadwaj and others violated the rules and purchased high-end mobile phones beyond the permitted limit.

He also accused the previous AAP regime of pushing government officials to cover the cost of the mobile phones.

Addressing a press conference, Sood said, “A few days ago, the AAP made a comment questioning the current government over the revision of phone reimbursement cap and asked vikas kiska ho raha?… We are replying to this because it is a question about an institution… These days, mobile phones are not a luxury… All of us work (on our) phones… The CM and ministers receive a lot of complaints through WhatsApp and e-mail…”

Taking a dig at the AAP, he claimed, “I feel that even Atishi and Bharadwaj are tired of their leaders Kejriwal and Sisodia, that is why they are highlighting these issues — so that we can expose their reality before the public.”

According to an official document, between 2015 and 2022, Kejriwal bought the iPhone 6s Plus and 7 Plus, and iPhone 12 and 13 Pro Max worth a total of Rs 4,53,800. Sisodia purchased phones worth Rs 5.23 lakh between 2017 and 2022.

“All these exceeded the Rs 50,000 and Rs 45,000 limits… Kejriwal’s office even sought post-facto approval for the excessive expenditure, stating in internal notes that the amount spent is on the higher side…,” alleged Sood.

On Tuesday, Bharadwaj had alleged, “The BJP had promised Rs 2,500 per month to lakhs of women starting March 8. Yet not a single rupee has been disbursed. When it comes to buying Rs 1.5 lakh-worth phones and sanctioning unlimited bills for themselves, the BJP acts without delay. But when it comes to women, they hide behind committees.”

The phone reimbursement cap has been revised after 12 years, officials had said, adding that the last revision took place in 2013. Earlier, the ceiling was set at around Rs 50,000 for CM and Rs 45,000 for ministers.

“Though the previous cap was set at Rs 50,000, the CM and ministers in the previous AAP regime have bought expensive iPhones which went above the allocated allowance, touching more than Rs 1 lakh. Viewing the current market price and value of phone sets, the department decided to revise the amount,” a senior officer had said on Tuesday.

“The AAP government fulfilled its promises without ever saying that we lack funds. The BJP refuses to give women the Rs 2,500 monthly support it guaranteed. Instead, it is spending the public’s money on luxury phones for the Chief Minister and ministers, hiring 4 data entry operators for every MLA, and quietly preparing to end the Pink Ticket scheme that gave women dignity and independence in public transport,” AAP said in its statement.