Delhi’s ‘cursed’ CM bungalow faces demolition: The curious story of 33 Sham Nath Marg

Published 12 June 2026 · local

For decades, 33 Sham Nath Marg in Delhi’s Civil Lines has occupied a unique place in the capital’s political folklore. Widely regarded by many politicians

For decades, 33 Sham Nath Marg in Delhi’s Civil Lines has occupied a unique place in the capital’s political folklore. Widely regarded by many politicians and government officials as an “unlucky” address, the sprawling government bungalow has long been associated with abrupt exits, political setbacks and personal tragedies involving some of its occupants. Now, the Delhi government is preparing to give the property an entirely new identity. The colonial-era bungalow is slated to be demolished and redeveloped into Delhi’s first dedicated headquarters for the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), complete with a modern Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The project is expected to transform a prime government property that has remained largely underutilised for years into a key administrative and emergency response facility. Also Read | I asked ChatGPT to plan a Ladakh trip under ₹20,000. The itinerary surprised me Yet even as redevelopment plans move forward, the bungalow’s reputation continues to attract attention, thanks to a history that has fuelled stories of a political “curse” for decades. How The Bungalow Earned Its Reputation Situated in the leafy Civil Lines neighbourhood, the two-storey property occupies more than 5,500 square metres of land.

Constructed during the 1920s under British rule, it features expansive lawns, gardens, conference rooms and staff accommodation. Following Independence, the bungalow became the preferred residence of Delhi’s chief minister due to its proximity to the Delhi Vidhan Sabha. Its first prominent occupant was Delhi’s first chief minister, Chaudhary Brahm Prakash, who moved into the residence in 1952. His tenure, however, came to an early end in 1955 amid controversy surrounding an alleged ‘jaggery scam’. Several decades later, the property was allotted to Madan Lal Khurana after he became chief minister in 1993 under the Capital Territory framework. Like Brahm Prakash, Khurana’s tenure was also cut short. He resigned in 1996 amid allegations connected to the hawala scandal. These back-to-back developments helped cement the bungalow’s growing reputation as an unlucky address within political circles. A Pattern That Strengthened The Myth Stories about the bungalow’s supposed misfortune gained further momentum with subsequent occupants. Sahib Singh Verma, who succeeded Khurana as chief minister, used the premises as his camp office. He also failed to complete his tenure and was eventually replaced by Sushma Swaraj, who became Delhi’s first woman chief minister.