The irony writes itself.
India’s anti-corruption ombudsman, Lokpal, has floated tenders to purchase seven BMW 3 Series Li luxury sedans, each costing around ₹70 lakh, for its members, most of whom are retired judges and bureaucrats.
An institution meant to keep corruption in check now appears more invested in keeping its members in comfort.
An Anti-Corruption Body Running on Luxury Fuel
The Lokpal was established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, a product of the “India Against Corruption” movement that galvanized millions. The law promised to bring accountability to those in the highest offices of power.
Yet, more than a decade later, the institution seems to have morphed into what many critics describe as a redundant white elephant, expensive to maintain and largely ineffective.
In the past five years, Lokpal received 8,703 complaints, but ordered investigations into just 24 of them. Even more staggering: only six cases reached the stage of prosecution sanction.
Nearly 90% of complaints were dismissed outright, often because they did not conform to the prescribed format, a classic bureaucratic loophole that rewards red tape over results.
As one observer quipped, “Itna to ye log corruption nahi pakadte jitni sarkari suvidhaon ka maza loot lete hain. Ab inko BMW chahiye.”
(They don’t catch as much corruption as they enjoy government perks. Now they want BMWs.)
“Fighting Corruption”, But in Style
The decision to buy luxury sedans has sparked outrage among taxpayers, who see it as yet another instance of government institutions indulging in extravagance while claiming austerity.
Social media users were quick to mock the move, joking that perhaps “corruption will be easier to chase down in a BMW with higher horsepower.”
But beyond the humor lies a deeper frustration, that an institution created to fight graft now mirrors the same culture of entitlement it was meant to dismantle.
A Compromised Institution
The Lokpal’s credibility was already under question due to its composition. The current Lokpal, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar, had previously delivered judgments favorable to the government, including in the Central Vista and PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) cases. His appointment was seen by many as emblematic of a body designed not to confront the powerful, but to comfort them.
Critics argue that the Modi government effectively neutered the Lokpal, first by keeping it vacant for years, and later by appointing members perceived as compliant rather than courageous.
“The institution has been ground to dust,” remarked one political observer. “Instead of probing corruption, it is now busy procuring BMWs.”
A Redundant White Elephant
The Lokpal Act was born of idealism but bred into irrelevance. According to a former senior CBI official, the creation of the Lokpal was unnecessary duplication, given the existence of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and CBI.
He recalled a conversation with the late Arun Jaitley, then Finance Minister, in 2018–19, where he suggested that instead of creating another layer of bureaucracy, the government should strengthen existing institutions.
His words now ring prophetic:
“The Lokpal would only waste public resources and provide lucrative post-retirement positions for retired judges and bureaucrats.”
That prophecy has perhaps materialized, in the form of seven BMWs.
The Bigger Irony
In the end, the Lokpal story is not just about luxury cars. It is about institutional decay, how mechanisms designed to ensure accountability often turn into sanctuaries of privilege.
While the corrupt continue to thrive, and the powerful remain untouched, it is the common taxpayer who foots the bill, both for the corruption and the BMWs meant to fight it.
As one disgusted citizen put it:
“We voted out Congress for corruption. The BJP promised to clean the system. But the termite is still eating the wood — only the furniture has changed.”
Conclusion: A Case of Misplaced Priorities
The Lokpal, envisioned as a fearless watchdog, now risks being remembered as a toothless tiger in a luxury car.
If there’s any lesson here, it’s this: corruption doesn’t just survive through money changing hands — it thrives through complacency, comfort, and complicity.
Until India finds a real Robin Hood who dares to shoot at sight, not with guns, but with integrity, the fight against corruption may continue to be just another luxury ride.
