Contestation between BJP and AAP regarding Arvind Kejriwal's Expensive Smartphones
In a political controversy that has been making waves, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of purchasing high-end mobile phones for official use, allegedly exceeding government-mandated expenditure limits during their tenure in the Delhi government.
The BJP has presented documents and official notes in support of these claims, particularly focusing on the spending habits of Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Atishi, and Saurabh Bhardwaj.
During Arvind Kejriwal's tenure as Delhi’s Chief Minister from 2015 to 2022, the official expenditure limit for a Chief Minister’s mobile phone purchase was capped at ₹50,000. However, Kejriwal is alleged to have acquired four iPhones during his tenure, each significantly exceeding this limit. These include an iPhone 6s Plus (December 1, 2015) for ₹81,000, an iPhone 7 Plus (September 12, 2017) for ₹69,000, an iPhone 12 Pro Max (December 4, 2020) for ₹1,39,900, and an iPhone 13 Pro Max (July 13, 2022) for ₹1,63,900.
Manish Sisodia, as Deputy Chief Minister and Minister (2015–2023), is alleged to have purchased five high-end phones between 2017 and 2022, also exceeding the applicable ₹45,000 limit for ministers at the time. These purchases include a Samsung Galaxy S8 with accessories (2017) for ₹59,899, a Samsung S8 (2018) for ₹49,000, an iPhone (2020) for ₹1,12,000, an iPhone 12 Pro Max (2021) for ₹1,66,700, and an iPhone 13 Pro Max (2022) for ₹1,37,000.
Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj have also been named in the allegations, though detailed invoices or purchase amounts for them are not specified in the available reports.
The BJP claims these purchases violate not only fiscal guidelines but also the AAP’s professed commitment to austerity and its “common man” image. The AAP, however, has not directly addressed these specific allegations in the cited reports.
It is important to note that the current, higher reimbursement limits were not in effect during the period of these alleged purchases. The 2013 official circular set the mobile phone purchase limit at ₹50,000 for the Chief Minister and ₹45,000 for ministers. The current memo, as of July 2025, has revised these limits to ₹1.5 lakh for the Chief Minister and ₹1.25 lakh for ministers, with a stipulation that phones should not be replaced before two years unless damaged.
The controversy revolves around a revision of mobile phone reimbursement ceilings for Delhi's chief minister and ministers. The BJP minister has defended the government's use of phones, stating they are essential tools for governance. However, the BJP has also accused AAP leaders of asking for post-facto approvals and increases in spending limits every year.
In response to these allegations, the AAP has maintained that they have been transparent in their governance and have fulfilled their electoral promises such as "Bijli Half, Paani Maaf."
While the AAP has not directly addressed the specific allegations, the BJP continues to argue that these actions contradict the AAP’s stated principles of austerity and transparency. It remains to be seen how this controversy will unfold in the coming days.
- The debate over government spending on high-end mobile phones by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, particularly Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Atishi, and Saurabh Bhardwaj, has become a significant topic in general news, politics, and policy-and-legislation, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing them of exceeding government-mandated expenditure limits during their tenure in the Delhi government.
- The controversy surrounding the alleged violations of fiscal guidelines and the AAP’s professed commitment to austerity has also touched upon the realms of crime-and-justice, as the BJP claims these purchases contravene the principles of accountability and fairness, making war-and-conflicts within the political domain a questionable issue.
- As the disagreement over the revision of mobile phone reimbursement ceilings for Delhi's chief minister and ministers continues, with the BJP arguing for stricter spending policies to promote transparency and adherence to guidelines, the AAP maintains its stance on being open and honest in governance and fulfilling its electoral promises, such as "Bijli Half, Paani Maaf." The unfolding of this political controversy will likely have wide-ranging implications for policy-and-legislation, crime-and-justice, and general news in the near future.
