New Bulletproof Vehicles Lie Idle, Old Ones Still in Use—Marandi Raises Questions
Jharkhand: BJP leader Babulal Marandi has raised questions regarding the utilization of bulletproof (BP) vehicles purchased for VIP security in Jharkhand, writing a letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren on the matter. He noted that towards the end of 2024, the Home Department procured 17 bulletproof Fortuner vehicles to ensure security during the movement of the Chief Minister, former Chief Ministers, the Governor, and other VVIPs.
According to Marandi, three of these vehicles were designated for the Chief Minister's use, two for the Raj Bhavan (Governor's House), and the remaining 12 have been stationed at the HQRT (Headquarters Reserve Team). He alleged that among the vehicles kept at the HQRT, only a few are currently being utilized, while the rest have been sitting idle for a long time and are not being put to any use.
He stated that allowing these new vehicles to remain inactive for extended periods creates a risk of mechanical deterioration, which constitutes a direct wastage of public funds. Conversely, the vehicles currently assigned to former Chief Ministers are quite old and suffer from frequent breakdowns, causing significant inconvenience during their commute.
Marandi suggested that the new bulletproof vehicles currently lying unused should be allocated to the Chief Secretary, the DGP, the Home Secretary, and the Cabinet Secretary. This would ensure their regular utilization and facilitate better management of resources.
