Mahajans allowed to stay at 7 Safdarjang Road

New Delhi, July 18: The woe-afflicted family of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan can continue staying at the official 7 Safdarjang Road residence -- witness to an infamous late night drugs party last month -- till November two, Rajya Sabha House Committee Chairman J P Agarwal said today.

The decision to allow the family to retain the bunglow for another four months was taken after Mr Mahajan's wife Rekha wrote a letter to the House Committee last week seeking extension of her stay in the house, he said.

The Mahajans would pay rent on market rate for the period, starting July two, when they were to vacate the place.

The bunglow was allotted to late Mahajan soon after Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee became Prime Minister and shifted from there to the official 7 Race Course residence a few hundred metres away.

Mahajan senior had stayed here for the last time on April 20, two days before being fatally shot by his younger brother in Mumbai.

On June 2, his son Rahul fell seriously ill while secretary Bibek Moitra died following a late night drugs and drinks party in the house.

Earlier this month, Rahul, who is facing trial in the case, took time off to get engaged to his long-time sweetheart Shweta Singh in the bunglow.

UNI