Delhi BJP leader and minister Ashish Sood has levelled serious allegations against former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and ex-Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, claiming they violated government spending norms by purchasing premium smartphones during their tenure. According to Sood, several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders consistently breached mobile phone reimbursement ceilings as set by a 2013 circular issued by the General Administration Department (GAD).
The GAD circular had capped the phone allowance at ₹50,000 for the Chief Minister and ₹45,000 for other ministers. Despite this, Mr Sood claimed that Kejriwal, Sisodia, Atishi, and Saurabh Bhardwaj repeatedly exceeded these limits, often seeking retrospective approvals to justify their spending.
“We didn’t want to bring this up,” said Sood, “but when someone tarnishes our government’s image, we must expose the truth. During COVID-19, Arvind Kejriwal — who once said he gave up a lucrative career to serve the nation — bought phones costing ₹1.8 lakh each. Is that service or indulgence?”
Alleged Procurement Details:
Sood cited official procurement records showing:
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Arvind Kejriwal:
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iPhone 13 Pro Max (2022) – ₹1.63 lakh
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iPhone 12 Pro Max (2020) – ₹1.39 lakh
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Additional premium Apple devices in earlier years
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Manish Sisodia:
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iPhone XS (2019) – ₹1.12 lakh
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iPhone 12 Pro Max (2021) – ₹1.66 lakh
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iPhone 13 Pro Max (2022) – ₹1.37 lakh
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Atishi:
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iPhone 14 Pro Max, split over two transactions – ₹1.28 lakh + ₹82,999
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Saurabh Bhardwaj:
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iPhone 13 (2023)
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Sood alleged that despite fixed caps, AAP leaders sought repeated increases in the permissible amount and frequently upgraded devices. “Where are all those phones now?” he asked.
Policy Shift Sparks Political Clash
The political clash intensified after the Delhi government issued a revised memo on July 9, raising the phone budget limit for the first time in 12 years. Under the new policy:
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The Chief Minister is now allowed to buy a phone worth up to ₹1.5 lakh
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Other ministers can spend up to ₹1.25 lakh
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Devices should not be replaced within 2 years unless repair costs exceed 50% of the phone’s original price
Sood defended the updated memo, stating that smartphones are crucial tools for modern governance. “Ministers receive emails, complaints via WhatsApp, and messages from citizens — phones aren’t luxury items anymore. But AAP took this to an extreme with frequent, expensive upgrades.”
BJP Hits Back After AAP Criticism
The allegations come just days after AAP minister Saurabh Bhardwaj criticised the new policy as extravagant. Responding to Sood’s accusations, Bhardwaj countered, “If we were buying expensive phones, why didn’t you object earlier? Why increase the limit to ₹1.5 lakh if you think it’s excessive?”
Ashish Sood accused AAP of hypocrisy and questioned their so-called moral high ground. “These are the same people who used to say they left good jobs to serve the country. Now, after spending lakhs on luxury phones, they’re blaming us for policy updates?”
Conclusion
The ongoing war of words between the BJP and AAP over phone expenses reflects the growing tension between Delhi’s ruling and opposition parties. While the BJP accuses AAP leaders of misusing public funds for personal tech indulgences, AAP leaders hit back, calling the new policy hypocritical and questioning BJP’s intent behind the revisions.
As this debate continues, the public awaits a clear accountability framework to ensure transparency in government spending — whether it’s ₹50,000 or ₹1.5 lakh.
