Latest news with #SheeshMahal
Hans India
3 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Delhiites finally getting justice: BJP, RLD as Sisodia, Jain summoned by ACB in classroom construction case
New Delhi: The BJP and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) on Wednesday criticised the AAP after the Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) summoned former ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain in connection with the alleged Rs 2,000-crore classroom construction irregularities case. Both parties hailed the development as a long-awaited step toward justice for the people of Delhi, accusing the AAP of corruption and misuse of power for personal gain. Satyendar Jain has been asked to appear before the ACB on June 6, while Manish Sisodia has been summoned for questioning on June 9. The summons relate to alleged irregularities in the awarding and execution of contracts for the construction of school classrooms and temporary shelters in the national Capital. Speaking to IANS, Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam stated, "Whenever action is taken against AAP leaders, they claim it's all done out of revenge. I want to say they should take it to the courts. If they have proper proof, they should present it in court." He accused the AAP leaders of constructing a 'Sheesh Mahal' while performing a "drama" with the poor, alleging that they only used their power to make money. "Everything is on paper; how can you ignore it?" he added. Delhi Minister for Environment, Forest, and Wildlife, Manjinder Singh Sirsa also condemned the AAP, calling it "the most corrupt party in the country." He accused Sisodia and Jain of being at the centre of the massive scam involving classrooms and temporary shelters. "Just imagine such a huge scam worth Rs 2,000 crore, where temporary shelters were allotted at Rs 8,800 per square foot — a rate high enough to build a five-star hotel with furniture costing not less than Rs 1,500 per foot," Sirsa stated. He further alleged, "The money was given to 34 favourites of the accused, with rates fixed by the architects themselves. The whole process was rigged, resulting in crores being looted." Sirsa expressed satisfaction at the ongoing investigation, claiming, "Now the people of Delhi are finally getting justice. The way Jain and Sisodia looted Delhi with both hands, the time has come for them to give an account. The ACB will complete the investigation, and everything will be revealed." Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader and former MP, Malook Nagar, also weighed in on the matter, emphasising the rule of law and constitutional process. "This country is run by the Constitution and laws made by the Parliament," Nagar said. "If any person commits a scam, they must face legal scrutiny through the proper agencies." He stressed the importance of accountability in public office, adding, "This scam involving thousands of crores is serious, so summons and notices must be sent, and those involved have to answer for it. The responsibility lies with the investigating agencies." Nagar urged them to cooperate with the legal process, stating, "Those concerned must justify their actions by submitting documents and proving their innocence within the legal framework." He reaffirmed the principle of equality before the law, saying, "This is a democracy, and the law is the same for everyone. It is not just a common man who can be punished — even those holding constitutional posts now or in the past cannot escape accountability. The country will be run by the Constitution, and everyone will have to follow the same process." Meanwhile, both Jain and Sisodia have been asked to join the investigation in connection with alleged irregularities in the construction of semi-permanent school rooms and buildings, by the then executive of Delhi government, at inflated costs.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Security, civic upgrades: This Delhi neighbourhood gets a boost living next door to CM
Outside a mall in Northwest Delhi's Shalimar Bagh, past a petrol pump, a golden-black gate swings open into AP Block, where a signboard announces: 'Shrimati Rekha Gupta, Mukhyamantri, Niwas AP-92.' A 100 days since the BJP came to power in the state, dislodging the AAP, Gupta — the Capital's fourth woman CM — is yet to move into her official residence. While the bungalow at 6, Flagstaff Road, in Civil Lines — the residence of former CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and the focus of the BJP's 'Sheesh Mahal' campaign — was offered to her by the Delhi government's Public Works Department (PWD), she declined. The PWD is currently evaluating suitable bungalows from its vacant pool. Sources in the Delhi government said the Chief Minister is looking for an official residence in Lutyens' Delhi. 'She wants the house at a central location which is accessible,' they said. Until then, AP-92, a four-storey building draped in saffron flags, is her seat of power — and the Shalimar Bagh neighbourhood an unlikely centre of governance. Outside the building are a few barricades and several armed personnel. Three times a week — Monday, Wednesday, Friday — the lane outside transforms as the CM holds her jan sunwai (public hearing). While Gupta has to travel 24 km to reach the Delhi Secretariat, and nearly 15 km to both the North and South Blocks, residents of Shalimar Bagh are happy she is living among them. For them, it has meant attention, security, and swift civic upgrades. 'Garbage? Not a single wrapper on the road,' says Ahmad Sehrawat, who has been working as a guard at the government primary school next to Gupta's house for the past eight years. 'Earlier, a luxury car worth Rs 70 lakh was stolen from right outside her house. Now, CRPF and Delhi Police personnel are stationed at all times and are taking shelter in our school,' he adds. Infrastructure, too, has seen a facelift. Over the past month, Gupta has inaugurated footpaths at two parks, laid new roads in NP, PD, QD, and NU Blocks in the colony, and raised the boundary walls of Prem Bari Bridge. Water pumps have been deployed in anticipation of the monsoon. One of the most ambitious undertakings is a new Ring Road planned between Madhuban Chowk and Mukarba Chowk — a Rs 13-crore project aimed at easing traffic congestion in Northwest Delhi. Gupta's team has also installed directional signs across Pitampura's PWD roads for smoother vehicle movement. Her neighbours talk of the 'Rekha ji' who would walk to the temple in her salwar kameez. Meena, who lives a few houses down, says, 'She would always greet us with a smile. Now she is the CM and cannot step out without security personnel. Still, she waves if we catch her eye.' 'She hasn't changed,' says Smita Bansal, who claims to have known her from the time she was a councillor. 'Just the crowd outside her house has changed. With the Chief Minister living here, I'm sure the property rates of this block would have increased.' 'We have never seen such rapid work in our area,' says Arti Chawla, a resident of Gupta's block. 'The road outside our temple was full of potholes. Now it's smooth, and the temple itself is being renovated.' Not everyone is happy, though. Vinod Mandal, who runs a kiosk where he sells paan, chips and beverages, is upset that street vendors have been displaced. His kiosk survived, but he says he lives in fear. 'Just days after she was named CM, all vendors were removed… The government has no plan to rehabilitate them,' says Mandal, who claims to be a 'lifelong' BJP worker. A group of shopkeepers from Haiderpur complain about harassment by the local police. Gupta responds sharply, 'Sadak pe kabza karoge toh kaise baat banegi? (How can things work out if you are going to take over the road?') The most agitated group, however, is that of civil defence volunteers, many wearing their uniforms, who remind Gupta of the BJP's pre-election promise to reinstate them. 'We were told the matter would be resolved in 60 days. It has been 100 days,' a volunteer says. Gupta responds: 'Do saal ki samasya ka samadhan do din mein ho sakta hai kya? (How can a matter of two years be resolved in two days?)' The CM leaves soon after, and her security personnel move to disperse the crowd.
Fashion Network
09-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
House of Amrapali, Evoluzione, and SR Artefacts launch joint flagship store in Mumbai
Jewellery label House of Amrapali, fashion curator Evoluzione, and silverware specialist SR Artefacts have launched a joint flagship store in Mumbai, marking a collaborative venture in experiential luxury retail. The 4,200 square-foot space spans two levels and merges fine jewellery, designer fashion, and heritage artefacts in a setting designed to evoke both a gallery and a temple. 'With the launch of our new flagship store in collaboration with Evoluzione and SR Artefacts in Mumbai, our vision was to bring together culture and craftsmanship in their purest forms," said Amrapali Jewels' creative director Tarang Arora in a press release on May 9. "From design to detailing, every element has been thoughtfully curated to celebrate Indian artistry in a setting that feels both intimate and grand." Each zone of the store, dedicated to jewellery, fashion, and collectibles, has been designed to have a distinct ambiance, unified by a design narrative rooted in Indian craftsmanship. The interiors feature polished marble flooring, warm lighting, and a combination of antique-inspired furnishings and modern architecture. A notable design element is a staircase wrapped in Thikri mirror work, echoing the Sheesh Mahal style, while the jewellery room is accessed through an archway crafted over a period of 1,200 hours by Jaipur-based artisans. The store houses over 1,000 handcrafted fine jewellery pieces from Amrapali Jewels and 1,500 silver jewellery designs from Tribe Amrapali. Evoluzione presents a selection of over 35 Indian designer labels, and SR Artefacts showcases more than 500 handcrafted items including silverware, idols, and restored heritage pieces. A curated collection from London-based Ananya Fine Jewellery is also on display. The collaboration aims to offer a retail experience that reflects the shared ethos of the three brands. "At Evoluzione, we've always believed in redefining luxury through meaningful curation, and this collaboration brings that belief to life in its most dynamic form," said Evoluzione's co-founders Tina and Atul Malhotra. "This flagship store brings that philosophy to life by offering a space where fashion, tradition, and modernity co-exist effortlessly."
