The unsettling history of 33 Shamnath Marg: Once abode of Delhi’s Chief Ministers

Delhi: A walk from 33 Shamnath Marg near Indraprastha College to 6 Flagstaff Road, the official residence of Delhi’s Chief Minister, takes no more than ten minutes. The area, shaded by old trees, offers a calm respite to pedestrians. Yet, while the recent controversy surrounding 6 Flagstaff Road captured public attention—when Arvind Kejriwal vacated the house after resigning last month—it has also cast a spotlight on 33 Shamnath Marg. Known as an ill-fated residence for Delhi’s Chief Ministers, its unlucky history looms large over political leaders, making it a house many now avoid.

The ill-fated 33 Shamnath Marg has seen the unceremonious exits of two former Chief Ministers— Chaudhary Brahm Prakash and Madan Lal Khurana. Prakash, Delhi’s first Chief Minister, was dismissed by his own party in 1955. Several decades later, in 1996, Khurana was forced to step down after his name surfaced in the infamous Jain Hawala case.

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Following Khurana’s resignation, his successor, Sahib Singh Verma, avoided moving into the residence, opting instead to stay at 9 Shamnath Marg, a house previously allotted to him as a member of Khurana’s cabinet. Sushma Swaraj, who succeeded Verma, also chose not to move into 33 Shamnath Marg, preferring her Lodhi Estate residence instead.

Harish Khurana, son of Madan Lal Khurana, recalls: “33 Shamnath Marg was allotted to Congress leader Deep Chand Bandhu after he was inducted into Sheila Dikshit’s cabinet in 1999. Sadly, he passed away there, and ever since, Delhi’s leaders have been scared off from occupying it.”

When Khurana was first allotted the house, warnings about its ill fated reputation abounded. Harish Khurana adds, “My father never paid attention to such superstitions and moved in with our family. We never experienced anything frightening while living there—it’s a huge and beautiful house.”

It is said that Prakash never spent a night at 33 Shamnath Marg during his tenure as Chief Minister, preferring to stay at his Nangloi home. “Brahm Prakash ji would meet his friends and supporters at 33 Shamnath Marg,” recalls an old Congress leader. His successor, Gurmukh Nihal Singh, the first Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, also avoided living there, choosing to remain in Daryaganj instead.

Sheila Dikshit’s rejection of 33 Shamnath Marg

When Congress returned to power in Delhi in 1999, Sheila Dikshit became Chief Minister. Although she was offered the “ill fated” 33 Shamnath Marg, she politely declined.

JP Sharma ‘Trikha’, a noted Mumbai-based astrologer and Vastu expert, remarks, “Highs and lows are a part of life, and I don’t believe any house can be deemed ill-fated. However, following Vastu principles when constructing or renovating a building can create good vibes and positive energy.” He suggests that certain modifications could help improve the image of 33 Shamnath Marg.

Dikshit instead opted for AB-17 Mathura Road Bungalow, where she lived with her family until 2005. The bungalow was later allotted to Manish Sisodia and subsequently to Atishi when they became ministers in the AAP government. It is situated along the main Mathura Road.

During her second term as Chief Minister, Dikshit was asked by Congress leadership to move into a larger residence. She relocated to 3 Motilal Nehru Marg, where she resided for nearly a decade. Spanning 3.5 acres, the property features residential quarters, staff accommodation, garages, and security infrastructure. It is classified as a Type VIII bungalow.

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“Sheila ji wanted to live in Lutyens Delhi to remain accessible to her Gole Market constituency and to maintain close ties with the Prime Minister and Union ministers. She needed to meet with them to discuss various development projects in Delhi. Although she was deeply religious, she did not believe in superstitions regarding ‘ill-fated’ houses,” says Rama Kant Goswami, who served in Dikshit’s cabinet.

The current occupant of 3 Motilal Nehru Marg

Since demitting office in 2014, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has resided at 3 Motilal Nehru Marg.

Although the controversy surrounding the Chief Minister’s residence has seemingly subsided for now, Dr Aruna Mukim, an eminent author and close neighbour to the Chief Minister’s house, notes, “6 Flagstaff Road became widely known only after Arvind Kejriwal moved in. Before that, it was occupied by Prem Singh, Speaker of the Delhi Assembly from 1998 to 2003. At that time, Sheila Dikshit lived far away, and the Delhi Assembly was a different political landscape.”