Lokpal To Spend Over 10% Of Its Budget On BMWs; Kiran Bedi Says ‘Truly Avoidable Decision’

Last Updated:October 23, 2025, 08:00 IST

Buying BMWs is totally against the swadeshi mission of PM Modi, Bedi told News18

The Lokpal was not created for extravagance, said Bedi. File pic/PTI

The Lokpal could spend over 10% of its annual budget on the purchase of seven BMW cars at nearly Rs 5 crore if it goes ahead with the purchase. The total budget of the Lokpal for 2025-26 is Rs 44.32 crore, as per documents.

Interestingly, as per the budget and expenditure for the Lokpal for 2023-24, Rs 12 lakh was budgeted for “motor vehicles". But the Lokpal did not spend any money in 2023-24 on motor vehicles as the actual expenditure shown is “zero". Before that, the Lokpal had not accounted for any expenditure on motor vehicles.

First reported by News18

But now, the Lokpal has issued a tender on October 16 to buy seven BMW cars this financial year.

As reported first by News18 on October 20, the Lokpal of India wants to buy seven high-end BMW cars worth nearly Rs 70 lakh each and has floated an official tender for this. These cars have been specified as the BMW 3 Series 330 Li Cars (Sport model Long Wheelbase), each worth Rs 70 lakh on road.

Kiran Bedi slams Lokpal move

Former IPS officer and once a proponent of the Jan Lokpal, Kiran Bedi has slammed the move of the Lokpal of procuring BMWs. Speaking with News18, Bedi said that it was a “truly avoidable decision" as the Lokpal “was not created for extravagance". Bedi sat on a dharna with activist Anna Hazare in 2013 to press for a Lokpal.

“Respecting people’s sentiments, Lokpal must say we are now going to buy swadeshi cars…when the Prime Minister is emphasising swadeshi then why is Lokpal buying foreign cars…don’t we have good Indian-made cars? The Lokpal decision is totally against the swadeshi mission of PM Modi," Kiran Bedi said.

Bedi also told News18 that the Lokpal has not delivered what it was formed for. “Everybody was looking up to the Lokpal for what it was formed. Lokpal was born out of a spirit of integrity, honesty, and diligence. It was not created for extravagance. I think the Lokpal has not delivered," Bedi said. She said that the Lokpal should instead go for Swadeshi electric cars.

Aman Sharma

Aman Sharma, News Director For CNN News18 and News18 English, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office. He has written widely on politics, ele...Read More

Aman Sharma, News Director For CNN News18 and News18 English, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister’s Office. He has written widely on politics, ele...

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