Delhi CM's 'Cursed' Bungalow Faces Demolition: The Amazing Story 33 Sham Nath Marg

For decades, 33 Sham Nath Marg in Delhi’s Civil Lines has occupied a unique place in the capital’s political folklore. The sprawling government bungalow, widely considered an “unfortunate” address by many politicians and government officials, has long been associated with sudden departures, political setbacks and personal tragedies for some of its residents.

Now, the Delhi government is gearing up to give the property a brand new identity.

A colonial-era bungalow is to be demolished and rebuilt as Delhi’s first dedicated headquarters for the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), complete with a state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The project is expected to transform the prime government property, which has been largely unused for years, into a key administrative and emergency facility.

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Yet even as redevelopment plans move forward, the bungalow’s reputation continues to attract attention, thanks to a history that has fueled political “curse” stories for decades.

How the Bungalow got its reputation

The two-storey property is located in the verdant area of Civil Lines and is spread over 5,500 square meters of land. Built during the 1920s under British rule, it features extensive lawns, gardens, conference rooms and staff accommodation.

After independence, the bungalow became the preferred residence of the Chief Minister of Delhi due to its proximity to the Delhi Vidhan Sabha.

Its first prominent resident was the first Chief Minister of Delhi, Chaudhary Brahm Prakash, who moved into the residence in 1952. However, his tenure ended prematurely in 1955 amid controversy surrounding an alleged “incredible fraud”.

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Decades later, the property was allotted to Madan Lal Khurana after he became the Chief Minister of the National Capital Territory in 1993. Like Brahm Prakash, Khurana was abbreviated. He resigned in 1996 due to allegations related to the hawala scandal.

These subsequent developments helped cement the bungalow’s growing reputation as an unfortunate address in political circles.

A pattern that reinforced the myth

Stories about the supposed misfortune of the bungalow gained momentum with other residents.

Sahib Singh Verma, who replaced Khurana as Chief Minister, used the premises as his camp office. He also failed to complete his term and was eventually replaced by Sushma Swaraj, who became Delhi’s first woman Chief Minister.

Perceptions deepened further in 2003 when Deep Chand Bandhu, then a minister in the Delhi government, moved into the bungalow despite reportedly being advised against it by advisers and well-wishers. Soon after, he contracted meningitis and later died in hospital.

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For many political observers, the incident added another chapter to the property’s growing legend.

Even after the bungalow ceased to function as the chief ministerial residence, the narrative around it persisted.

Subsequent chief ministers, including Sheila Dikshit, chose not to move into the property. Over time, the bungalow remained largely vacant, cementing its unusual status in Delhi’s political imagination.

Another controversial output

The most recent high-profile user associated with the campus was Jasmine Shah, vice-chairperson of the Delhi Dialogue Commission.

In November 2022, Governor VK Saxena ordered the then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to remove Shah from his post over allegations that he had misused his office for political purposes.

The development added another sudden departure to the list of incidents associated with the property, further strengthening its reputation among those who believed in its unfortunate history.

Why rebuilding matters

While tales of bad luck continue to surround the bungalow, officials say the decision to rebuild the site is rooted in practical considerations rather than superstition.

Delhi currently lacks a separate headquarters for DDMA with disaster management functions spread over several offices. Authorities believe the dedicated facility will greatly improve coordination during emergencies and strengthen disaster response across the capital.

The proposed complex will house representatives of various government bodies and agencies, including the New Delhi Municipal Council, the Delhi Development Authority and the Delhi Police.

Officials also point to constraints in the existing Emergency Operations Center, which currently operates from the DDMA office in Civil Lines and faces space constraints.

“The current setup has limited space. Once a disaster-related call is verified, fire, police and CATS teams are alerted. District magistrates and rescue teams are also informed, while the EOC monitors and coordinates the response,” the official said.

The end of an era

The redevelopment project marks the end of a chapter for the property, which has remained largely unoccupied for more than two decades.

Whether seen as a symbol of political misfortune or simply a subject of enduring folklore, 33 Sham Nath Marg has long held a prominent place in Delhi’s political history. Its transformation into a dedicated disaster management center is meant to replace tales of bad luck with a new role focused on public safety and emergency preparedness.