Farmer buys SUV used by Hazare for 9.11 lakh in auction
Apart from the Farmer Atul Lokhande, the bidding opened at Rs 4.05 lakh the estimated present value of the SUV with 14 bidders participating in the much publicised auction. Most of the participants were from Ahmednagar, Hazare’s home district.
Soon after he made the payment, Hazare himself handed over the key to the new owner, Atul Lokhande, a farmer from neighbouring Shrigonda taluka. Lokhande is a long-time supporter of Hazare who participated in many of his agitations.
The vehicle Mahindra Scorpio W CRDE was owned by the Swami Vivekanand Krutudnata Nidhi, a trust formed to govern the funds received by Hazare by way of awards. The car was bought for Hazare by fellow villagers as a gift by collecting contributions.
“When Anna was giving him the key, Lokhande requested him to keep the car arguing that it can be used by Anna’s aides who accompany him on tours. Annaji, however, refused this request,” said Sanjay Pathade, an aide of Hazare.
A new Innova car is likely to be purchased for Mr Hazare, he said after the auction. "Anna needs a new vehicle because he is suffering from back pain, and travelling in the eight-year-old SUV, a Mahindra Scorpio, is aggravating it," Hazare's aide Datta Awari had earlier said.
