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Citing official data on Lokpal’s performance, Singhvi questioned the logic behind such extravagant spending.
The market on-road price of the said car is around Rs 70 lakh, taking the total cost of seven cars to almost Rs 5 crore. (AI-generated photo)
The Lokpal’s reported decision to purchase seven BMW cars worth around Rs 70 lakh each has sparked sharp criticism from Congress leaders, who called it a “tragic irony” for an institution meant to uphold integrity and fight corruption.
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who chaired the Parliamentary Committee on Lokpal, said the move goes against the spirit of the anti-corruption body envisioned decades ago. “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 wrote on X.
Citing official data on Lokpal’s performance, Singhvi questioned the logic behind such extravagant spending. “8,703 complaints. Only 24 probes. 6 prosecution sanctions. And now, BMWs worth ₹70 lakh each. If this is our anti-corruption watchdog, it’s more poodle than panther!” he remarked.
Drawing a comparison with the judiciary, Singhvi further asked, “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, to accept these cars.”
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed also took aim at the anti-corruption body, calling it a betrayal of the movement that once promised transparency. “Lokpal wants to buy 7 luxury BMW cars worth ₹5 crore for itself. This is the same institution that was supposed to fight corruption after the so-called ‘India Against Corruption’ movement — a movement backed by the RSS and designed only to bring down the Congress government,” she said in a post on X.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
October 22, 2025, 09:42 IST
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