Jharkhand Leader Babulal Marandi Returns Bullet‑Proof Car to State Over Persistent Breakdowns

Jharkhand's former Leader of the Opposition, Babulal Marandi, returned a bullet‑proof car supplied by the state government after it suffered repeated breakdowns, officials said. The vehicle, intended for security purposes, reportedly malfunctioned on several occasions, prompting Marandi to deem it unsuitable for his use. State authorities have taken back the car and are reviewing its condition to determine the cause of the failures. Marandi's decision underscores ongoing concerns about the reliability of specialized security equipment provided to public officials. No further details on replacement arrangements have been disclosed.

The handover was conducted at the state secretariat in Ranchi, where officials documented the car's condition before returning it to the transport department. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the repeated issues affected both the engine and the bullet‑proof glazing, raising safety questions.

The incident has sparked a brief discussion among opposition leaders about the adequacy of government‑provided security assets, though no political fallout has been reported so far.