‘Phansi Ghar’ controversy: Arvind Kejriwal to appear before Assembly panel, demands live streaming of proceedings

March 3, 2026

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal confirmed on Tuesday that he will appear before the Delhi Assembly’s Privileges Committee on March 6 in connection with the ‘Phansi Ghar (Gallows Gallery)’ controversy. He also demanded live streaming of the proceedings for transparency.

Appearance before panel on March 6

The Delhi Assembly’s Privileges Committee has directed Kejriwal and his former deputy **Manish Sisodia** to appear on March 6. The notice was issued after questions were raised about the veracity of claims related to the ‘Phansi Ghar’.

Kejriwal wrote on social media platform X that he would comply with the committee’s summons and appear on March 6.

Demand for live streaming

Kejriwal said that in the interest of transparency and public accountability, the committee’s proceedings should be live-streamed.

He wrote in his letter that he would appear in person on March 6, 2026, at 3 p.m., but this appearance would be without prejudice to his legal and constitutional rights.

He requested the committee to confirm receipt of his letter.

 The ‘Gallows’ Controversy dates back to 2021

This controversy surfaced in 2021 during the tenure of the AAP government, when the then Delhi Assembly Speaker, Ram Niwas Goel, claimed that rooms beneath the Assembly building served as a ‘Gallows’ during the British era.

He also stated that there was an underground tunnel from the Assembly complex to the Red Fort, which the British used to transport prisoners sentenced to death.

BJP Government Rejects Claim

The current BJP government in Delhi, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has rejected this claim.

The government maintains that the underground chambers were not “fancy houses” but rather a service staircase used during the British era to deliver tiffin trays into the complex.

The future course of action will become clear after a hearing before the Privileges Committee on this issue.