I smell malicious intention by DRDO officials, claims former Agni V programme director RK Gupta

Pranay Upadhyay, CNN-IBN Feb 06, 2015 at 12:35pm IST
New Delhi: A day after the project director of nuclear-capable Agni 5 missile programme at DRDO RK Gupta was removed, a letter has surfaced in which he has claimed that he was targeted by former DRDO chief Avinash Chander.
“I feel dishonoured the way I was treated. I smell malicious intention. My whole family is undergoing mental agony. In case of any untoward incident or accident, I fix responsibility on Dr Avinash Chander and Dr VG Sekaran,” Gupta writes in his letter.
Gupta was removed as director of Agni V programme a day after a successful test. While DRDO sources termed the transfer as “routine”, the officer alleged that he was singled out by two senior officials within the organisation including former chief Avinash Chander, who demitted his office on January 31.

While DRDO sources termed the transfer as “routine”, the officer alleged that he was singled out by two senior officials within the organisation including former chief Avinash Chander, who demitted his office on January 31.

Gupta has complained to the Defence Ministry that he received the letter, dated January 9, only on February 2 when he reached his office after the successful launch.
“With all humility and respect, I wish to bring to your notice that on February 2, I was relinquished from the post of project director Agni-V. I am shocked that such bad treatment is meted out to such a senior scientist with an excellent track record throughout service tenure,” he said in his letter to Defence Secretary RK Mathur, who is also holding the additional charge of DRDO.
Incidentally, Gupta’s name had come up in connection with the sudden termination of Chander’s contract by the government, 15 months ahead of his tenure.
It was then rumoured that one of the reasons for Chander’s removal was three complaints filed by individuals including by Gupta who has denied any such move.