File photo: Congressman Jairam Ramesh addressed a press conference in New Delhi earlier this year. | Photo credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday criticized Lokpal’s office for its reported move to buy seven BMW 330 Li (Long Wheel Base) luxury cars, saying the anti-corruption authority was now a “shock pal”.
Speaking to ANI, Ramesh questioned the actions of the Lokpal and inquired about the investigations and arrests carried out by the Lokpal.
“Lokpal is no longer Lokpal. It is ‘Shokpal’ and ‘Shockpal’. Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, ‘India Against Corruption’ and the RSS had a lot of publicity in 2012 and 2013, highlighting the importance of the Lokpal. Now look at the actions of the Lokpal itself. What investigations has Lokpal initiated? Who are the people they have arrested?” Ramesh said.
Meanwhile, Ramesh also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US President Donald Trump reiterated his claims that “India agreed to stop oil purchases by Russia”, saying the Howdy Modi – Namaste Trump has been “completely spoiled”.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally acknowledged that he spoke to President Trump, but he only stated that President Trump wished him a Happy Diwali. But whatever Prime Minister Modi is hiding, President Trump is revealing,” the Congress leader said.
“President Trump said this four times in the last six days when he spoke with Prime Minister Modi, who ensured that India would stop purchasing Russian oil. We first received information about Operation Sindoor from President Trump, and now we also receive information about Russian oil from President Trump. What is PM Modi hiding? What pressure is he under? What is he afraid of?enough for raha‘ he added.
His comments come after the Lokpal Office of India reportedly started the process of purchasing BMW 330 Li (Long Wheel Base) luxury cars by issuing an open tender. Reacting to this, Congress leader P. Chidamabaram earlier claimed that even Supreme Court judges are given modest sedans and further expressed hope that some members of the Lokpal office will refrain from using these luxury cars.
“If honorable judges of the Supreme Court are given modest sedans, why do the chairman and six members of the Lokpal need BMW cars? Why spend public money to acquire these cars? I hope at least one or two members of the Lokpal have refused, or will refuse, to accept these cars,” Chidambaram wrote on X.
The tender invites bids from interested suppliers to supply the high-end sedans, each priced at over Rs 60 lakh, according to auto market estimates. The evaluation of the bids is expected to begin on November 7, officials familiar with the development said.
According to reports, the Lokpal plans to purchase seven BMW 330 Li cars, the total cost of which is expected to exceed Rs 5 crore. Once the vehicles are delivered, BMW will reportedly conduct a week-long training program for Lokpal’s drivers and staff, covering the vehicles’ systems, safety features and operational instructions.
The tender is said to be part of the Lokpal’s broader efforts to streamline its transportation and administrative facilities. The Lokpal is an independent anti-corruption authority in India, established to represent the public interest and investigate allegations of corruption at the national level. It was established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, enacted by Parliament following the Jan Lokpal movement led by social activist Anna Hazare in 2010.
The current chairman of the Lokpal is Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar, a former judge of the Supreme Court of India.
The Lokpal reportedly has the power to investigate corruption complaints against the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Members of Parliament and central government officials from groups A, B, C and D.
The jurisdiction also extends to chairmen, members and officers of any board, company or trust established by an Act or funded by the Central Government, as well as associations or trusts receiving foreign contributions exceeding ₹10 lakh. While the Lokpal functions at the national level, similar bodies known as Lokayuktas handle corruption cases at the state level.
Published on October 22, 2025
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