Congress Leaders Criticize Lokpal for Procuring BMW Luxury Cars

Senior Congress leaders and Rajya Sabha MPs P. Chidambaram and Abhishek Singhvi have strongly criticized the Lokpal for moving to acquire seven BMW 3 Series luxury cars for its members, each costing around ₹70 lakh on-road.

Chidambaram, a former Union Home Minister, questioned the necessity of luxury vehicles for the anti-corruption watchdog.

“When Honourable judges of the Supreme Court are provided modest sedans, why do the Chairman and six members of the Lokpal require BMW cars? 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,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

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Singhvi Condemns ‘Tragic Irony’

Abhishek Singhvi, who previously chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Lokpal, highlighted the irony of the development:

“Dr. L.M. 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 also noted that since its inception in 2019, the Lokpal has received 8,703 complaints, resulting in only 24 investigations and 6 prosecution sanctions.

“And now, BMWs worth ₹70 lakh each. If this is our anti-corruption watchdog, it's more poodle than panther,” Singhvi added.

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Details of the Procurement

A notification dated October 16 invited open tenders for the supply of seven BMW 3 Series Li cars. Media reports indicate that BMW will also provide seven days of training for Lokpal drivers and staff.

The Lokpal leadership includes former Supreme Court judge Justice A.M. Khanwilkar as chairperson, along with members Justices L. Narayana Swamy, Sanjay Yadav, Ritu Raj Awasthi, former Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, and retired bureaucrats Pankaj Kumar and Ajay Tirkey.