Why such extravagance? Lokpal’s Rs 5-cr BMW tender hits Opposition hurdle

With the Lokpal maintaining a stony silence, outrage erupted on Wednesday after the anti-graft ombudsman floated a tender to purchase seven luxury BMW sedans worth nearly Rs 5 crore. The move, seen as tone-deaf for an institution meant to symbolise simplicity and integrity, drew sharp political fire for turning the “watchdog of probity into a symbol of privilege.”

Leading the attack, senior Congress leader and former Home Minister P Chidambaram questioned the need for such extravagance. “When judges of the Supreme Court are provided modest sedans, why do the chairman and six members of the Lokpal require BMW cars?” he asked in a post on X. “Why spend public money to acquire these cars? I hope that at least one or two members of the Lokpal have refused, or will refuse, to accept these cars,” he added.

Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who once chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Lokpal, called the development “a betrayal of the very spirit of the institution”. “Dr LM Singhvi first conceived the idea of Lokpal in the early 1960s. To see this anti-corruption body now ordering BMWs for its members is tragic irony -- the guardians of integrity chasing luxury over legitimacy,” Singhvi posted on X.

In a stinging follow-up, he added, “8,703 complaints. Only 24 probes. 6 prosecution sanctions. And now, BMWs worth Rs 70 lakh each. If this is our anti-corruption watchdog, it’s more poodle than panther!”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi joined the chorus, mocking the purchase as “Gazab ka Jokepal at Indian taxpayers’ expense,” before asking, “What happened to the Swadesi call by GoI?”

TMC MP Saket Gokhale called it “Lokpal’s luxury”, pointing out, “The annual budget of the Lokpal is Rs 44.32 crore. Now, Lokpal is purchasing seven luxury BMW cars worth approximately Rs 5 crore for all members. This equals 10 per cent of its entire annual budget.” He added, “Lokpal is supposedly an anti-corruption body. So who will probe the corrupt Lokpal?”

Activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan didn’t hold back either. “The institution of Lokpal has been ground to dust by the Modi government by keeping it vacant for many years and then appointing servile members who are not bothered by graft and are happy with their luxuries. They are now buying Rs 70-lakh BMW cars for themselves!” he posted.

Echoing the sentiment, former IAS officer Ashok Khemka said, “Tender for the purchase of expensive BMW cars for its members does not augur well for the institution of Lokpal. Simple living and high performance is the hallmark of an anti-corruption ombudsman. Where is the performance?”

On October 16, the Lokpal invited open tenders from reputed agencies for supply of seven BMW 3 Series 330Li cars. The notice specifies the M Sport model with a long wheelbase, white colour and an on-road price of about Rs 69.5 lakh each in Delhi. The model, according to the manufacturer, is “the longest and most spacious car in the segment designed for outstanding comfort in an extremely luxurious cabin.”

The cars are meant for the institution’s seven current members, including Chairman Justice AM Khanwilkar (retd). The Lokpal’s sanctioned strength is eight.

The tender also mandates a seven-day training programme for its drivers, covering familiarisation with controls, features and safety systems, along with a 50–100 km driving practice, all to be organised by the vendor at its own cost.

The last date for bid submission is November 6, with an earnest money deposit of Rs 10 lakh required. Delivery is to be completed “preferably within two weeks but not later than 30 days” of the supply order.