Lokpal scraps controversial tender to buy seven BMW cars

Anti-graft ombudsman Lokpal has cancelled its arguable tender to procure 7 luxury BMW cars, collectively worthy astir ₹5 crore, 2 months aft it was floated, officials said connected Thursday (January 1, 2026).

The determination assumes value arsenic Opposition parties and civilian nine activists had slammed the Lokpal's determination to procure the high-end vehicles.

Officials said the determination to cancel the procurement connection was taken pursuing a solution of the afloat Bench of the Lokpal, aft which a corrigendum was issued by it dated December 16, 2025.

The Lokpal had, connected October 16, 2025, floated a petition for connection seeking bids from reputed agencies for the proviso of 7 BMW 3 Series 330Li cars.

The procurement was intended to supply a conveyance each for the chairperson and six members of the Lokpal, presently headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar (retd). The Lokpal is headed by a chairperson and tin person a maximum of 8 members -- 4 each judicial and non-judicial.

The tender had specified BMW 330Li "M Sport" models with "long wheelbase" successful achromatic colour for procurement. The on-road terms of the projected cars successful New Delhi was estimated astatine astir ₹5 crore.

The Lokpal's determination had drawn crisp disapproval from the Opposition parties, who accused the "guardians of integrity" of "chasing luxury implicit legitimacy".

Congress wide caput in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, had dubbed the instauration "Shauq Pal", portion erstwhile Niti Aayog Chief Executive Officer Amitabh Kant had demanded that the Lokpal cancel the tender and opt for electrical vehicles manufactured successful India.

According to the tender document, the selected vendor/firm was required to behaviour a broad applicable and theoretical grooming programme for the drivers and different designated unit members of the Lokpal to guarantee efficient, harmless and optimal cognition of the BMW vehicles.

It had besides mentioned some schoolroom sessions and on-road applicable sessions, covering "familiarisation with each controls, features and information systems of the BMW 330Li M Sport", "hands-on operational training, including start-up, parking, and exigency handling" and "understanding of substance ratio parameters and driving modes", among others, for the drivers.