Lokpal Withdraws Luxury BMW Tender After Public Backlash

India’s anti-corruption ombudsman, the Lokpal, has withdrawn a controversial tender to procure seven BMW 330Li luxury sedans following widespread criticism from opposition leaders and civil society. Officials said the decision was taken by the full bench and formalised through a corrigendum issued on December 16, 2025 — nearly two months after the procurement process was initiated. The proposal, which involved allocating the high-end vehicles to the chairperson and six members of the institution, was criticised for sending a contradictory message from a body mandated to uphold probity and restraint in public life.

The tender, floated on October 16, 2025, sought BMW 330Li M Sport models with a long wheelbase, all in white, at an estimated on-road cost of around ₹5 crore in New Delhi. Critics questioned both the optics and ethics of the move, with opposition leaders accusing the Lokpal of undermining its moral authority. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh mocked the institution as “Shauq Pal”, while former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant urged the body to cancel the procurement and instead consider Indian-made electric vehicles. The tender also included provisions for specialised driver training, covering classroom instruction, on-road familiarisation, and emergency handling.

Although the Lokpal has not publicly detailed the reasons for the withdrawal, officials indicated that the decision followed internal deliberations at the highest level. The move is widely seen as a reputational course correction aimed at defusing controversy and restoring public confidence in the institution. Observers noted that, for a watchdog built on perceptions of integrity and restraint, stepping back from the luxury car purchase was crucial to preserving its credibility.

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