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Race for next DRDO chief heats up, incumbent eyes extension

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By Pradip R Sagar May 02, 2018 18:29 IST  – THE WEEK

DRDO chief S. Christopher (left) with Arun Jaitley, during his brief tenure as defence minister in 2017 | Facebook account of DRDO

With the tenure of S. Christopher, current chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), coming to an end later this month, the race for the top post in the country’s premier defence research organisation has begun. Christopher, who was given a one-year extension at the last moment in May 2017, though, is also eyeing another extension. But whether he will be second time lucky is unclear.

Hectic parleys have begun for the coveted post. The key players who are in the race to lead the DRDO include Sudhir Mishra, director general of BrahMos missile system division, and G. Satheesh Reddy, who is presently serving as director general (Missiles & Strategic Systems) and scientific advisor to the defence minister. Besides Mishra and Reddy, P.K. Mehta, who is currently heading the office of the director general of armament and combat engineering systems, is considered to be in the race to head DRDO, which has an annual budget of nearly Rs 20,000 crore.

According to sources in South Block, Reddy is the senior-most scientist in the organisation after Christopher. His name figured prominently last year also, but Christopher managed to get an extension at the last minute, meaning Reddy would need to wait for a year. Former defence minister Manohar Parrikar had bifurcated the post of DRDO chief and scientific advisor to the defence minister, which earlier used to be occupied by one person. Christopher is completing his tenure on May 29.

Mishra, head of BrahMos missile system division—a joint venture between India and Russia— is also among candidates vying for the top post in DRDO.

Mehta, who is heading the Pune-based cluster of armament and combat engineering systems, can be a dark horse in the race due to his proximity with top BJP leaders, sources claimed.

Christopher, who took over as the head of DRDO in May 2015, did his best to impress Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman by showcasing the work done under his leadership towards self-reliance in the recently concluded DefExpo in Chennai. A special pavilion under the ‘Make in India’ theme was inaugurated by Modi, in which all major equipment designed and developed by DRDO were showcased. Last year, Christopher had directed all the labs to remove his photographs, just two weeks before he was to retire. But only at the last minute, he was given extension for a year by the government.

DRDO has often been criticised for delayed projects, as most of its ventures, ranging from the Tejas light combat aircraft to long-range surface-to-air missile systems, have been repeatedly missing deadlines, with huge cost overruns. In the absence of self-reliance in defence, the Indian armed forces continue to be heavily dependent on imports. India continues to top the list of global importers of military hardware, with over 70 per cent of armed forces’ requirements being met by foreign firms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first interaction with DRDO scientists in 2014 had sent a stern message to the defence research agency against their ‘chalta hai’ attitude.

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RTI to CVC regarding name disclosure of complainant under Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers (PIDPI)

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To,                                                                                          Date – 20 April 2018

Shri Asit Gopal,

Director, CPIO

Central Vigilance Commission,

Satarkta Bhawan, Block A, GPO Complex, INA,

New Delhi-110023

 

Hello,
kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in respect of enclosed complaint under PIDPI

  1. Please provide the certified copy of CVC policy or rules in which it is mentioned that action cannot be taken on complaint under PIDPI without disclosing the name of complainant, if complainant, complaint one point from rest of his complaint to another authority.
  2. Please provide the certified copy of noting, approval for enclosed CVC letter in which Sh T P Sharma, Under Secretary asked for NOC from complainant to disclose his name and said that without disclosing it is difficult to take action.
  3. Please provide the certified copy of orders or instructions if any to deal with complaints related to PMO.

 

Regards
Prabhu Dandriyal,
21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun -248008
Phone 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,
e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com   website www.corruptionindrdo.com

Enclosed: copy of CVC letter send by Sh T P Sharma, Under Secretary

Registration Number         CVCOM/R/2018/50165

Drdo

नैनो टेक्नोलॉजी से स्मार्ट वेस्ट बनाने के नाम पर चार करोड़ की ठगी

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हिन्दुस्तान टीम, कानपुर Thu, 19 Apr 2018
 नैनो टेक्नोलॉजी से स्मार्ट वेस्ट बनाने के लिए शहर की एक कम्पनी ने डीएमएसआरडी के एक पूर्व कर्मी और उसके परिजनों की रिर्स्च पर लगभग चार करोड़ रुपए का खर्च किया। वेस्ट बनने के बाद आरोपियों ने अमेरिका में एक अलग कम्पनी बनाकर स्मार्ट वेस्ट की मार्केटिंग शुरू कर दी। इस धोखाधड़ी को लेकर कम्पनी के लॉ अफसर ने चकेरी थाने में डीएमएसआरडी के पूर्व कर्मचारी और उनके परिजनों के खिलाफ धोखाधड़ी, फर्जी दस्तावेज बनाना और उनका प्रयोग करने की धाराओं में एफआईआर दर्ज कराई है।

कृष्णापुरम चकेरी में श्री लक्ष्मी काटसिन लिमिटेड का प्रशासनिक कार्यलय है। कम्पनी के लॉ अफसर नितिन कुमार तलसियान के मुताबिक कम्पनी सेना के लिए बुलटप्रूफ जैकेट और जूते आदि बनाने का काम करती है। लॉ अफसर के मुताबिक डीएमएसआरडी में डा. जीएन माथुर पूर्व कर्मी हैं। डीएमएसआरडी में कार्यरत रहने के दौरान यह कम्पनी के मालिकों से सम्पर्क में आए थे। डीएमएसआरडी से रिटायर होने के बाद सन 2005 मे डा. जीएन माथुर ने बतौर निदेशक श्री लक्ष्मी काटसिन लिमिटेड ज्वाइन कर ली। सन 2008 में डा. जीएन माथुर, उनकी पत्नी डा. रंजना माथुर और बेटी देविना माथुर के साथ कम्पनी के ऑफिस पहुंचे और कम्पनी के चेयरमैन डा. एमपी अग्रवाल से मुलाकात की। इस दौरान डा. जीएन माथुर और उनके परिवार ने नैनो टेक्नोलॉजी का प्रयोग कर स्मार्ट वेस्ट बनाने का प्रस्ताव रखा। इन लोगों ने कम्पनी के सीएमडी को बताया कि स्मार्ट वेस्ट पहनने के बाद लोगों को ब्लड शुगर, ब्लड प्रेशर समेत अन्य जरुरी जांचों के लिए डाक्टर के पास नहीं जाना पड़ेगा। इसके अलावा जीपीएस के जरिए लोगों के बारे में जानकारी भी जुटाई जा सकेगी। प्रस्ताव सुनने के बाद सीएमडी स्मार्ट वेस्ट बनाने को राजी हो गए और सन 2008 में श्री लक्ष्मी नैनो टेक्नोलॉजी के नाम से नई कम्पनी बनाई गई।

लॉ अफसर के मुताबिक इसी दौरान आरोपी पक्ष ने डा. विजय के वारदान को कम्पनी के मालिकों से मिलवाया। जिन्हें नैनो टेक्नोलॉजी का विशेषज्ञ बताया गया। उसके बाद आरोपियों ने रिर्स्च और डवलपमेंट के लिए अमेरिका समेत अन्य देशों के दौरे किए। सन 2008 से 2016 तक कंपनी के खर्च पर आरोपियों ने नैनो टेक्नोलॉजी के जरिए स्मार्ट वेस्ट बनाई। जिसके रिर्स्च, डेवलपमेंट और प्लानिंग में कम्पनी का 3 करोड़ 67 लाख, 40 हजार 377 रुपए लगे। जब स्मार्ट वेस्ट बनकर तैयार हो गया तो आरोपियों ने अमेरिका में एक अलग कम्पनी नैनो वेयर के नाम से बनाई और स्मार्ट वेस्ट की मार्केटिंग शुरू कर दी। उसके बाद आरोपियों द्वारा श्री लक्ष्मी नैनो टेक्नोलॉजी और श्री लक्ष्मी काटसिन लिमिटेड के साथ हुए अनुबंधों की भी अनदेखी की गई। चकेरी इंस्पेक्टर प्रमोद शुक्ला के मुताबिक एफआईआर दर्ज कर ली गई है मामले में विशेषज्ञों से राय लेने के बाद आगे की कार्रवाई की जाएगी।

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DRDO Scientist’s bluffing expertise example  – Dr. G. N. Mathur who is eminent scientist, ex-Director, DMSRDE, Kanpur of DRDO, India

Drdo

DefExpo 2018: Policy paralysis during Congress rule had affected defence preparedness, PM Modi says

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B Sivakumar | TNN | Updated: Apr 12, 2018, 13:21 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The Prime Minister was speaking at the defence expo in Chennai.
  • Modi said policy paralysis would not happen anymore.
  • The PM launched IDEX , a portal for startups to deal with the defence production department.

 CHENNAI: India is set to move faster in all fields as the NDA government has brought the country out of policy paralysis caused by the previous Congress government, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while formally inaugurating the 10th edition of the defence expo – DefExpo 2018 – at Thiruvidandai near Chennai on Thursday.
“There was a time when, like many other aspects of governance, the critical issue of defence preparedness was also hampered by policy paralysis. We have seen how laziness, incompetence and perhaps some hidden motives can cause damage to the nation,” said the Prime Minister.
He said such paralysis would not happen anymore. “Issues that should have been long addressed by previous governments are being resolved now. You would have seen how the requirement of providing bullet proof jackets to Indian Army soldiers was kept hanging for years,” said Modi.
“You would also recall the long-drawn process of procurement of fighter aircraft that never reached any conclusion. We have not only taken bold action to meet our immediate critical requirements, but have also initiated a new process to procure 110 fighter aircraft. We do not want to spend 10 years in discussions without any tangible outcomes,” he said.
Promising honesty and transparency in all the dealings, the Prime Minister said, “We will work with you with a sense of mission to keep our defence forces equipped with state-of-the-art systems, and to create the necessary domestic manufacturing ecosystem to achieve this.”
Earlier, the Prime Minister launched IDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence), a portal for startups to deal with the defence production department. “Today, we launched the ‘Innovation for Defence Excellence’ scheme. It will set up defence innovation hubs throughout the country to provide necessary incubation and infrastructure support to the startups in defence area,” said Modi.
He said the government would encourage private venture capital into the defence sector, especially for startups.
“New and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics are perhaps the most important determinants/of defensive and offensive capabilities for any defence force in the future. India, with its leadership in information technology domain, would strive to use this technology tilt to its advantage,” he said.
Quoting former President APJ Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister said, Kalam asked us to dream, dream and dream. Our dream is to develop the ecosystem to foster an environment of new and creative entrepreneurship in defence manufacturing sector.
Modi said in the coming weeks the government would undertake extensive consultations with all stakeholders, including both Indian and foreign companies, about our defence production and defence procurement policy space. “I call upon all of you to actively participate in this exercise. Our aim is not just to discuss, but to draw the right lessons. Our intention is not to lecture, but to listen. Our goal is not merely to tinker, but to transform,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister witnessed live demonstration of the three services.

Drdo

Lobbying on as officers eye top DRDO job

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Abhinandan Mishra
April 8, 2018, Sunday Guardian
With the tenure of the chief of Defence Research and Development Organization Christopher (DRDO) ending next month, the officers eyeing his post have started meeting bureaucrats and politicians to push their candidature.

Even Christopher, who was given a one-year extension on 29 May last year, is interested in another tenure with the premier defence organisation and is banking on Defence Expo 2018, the largest land, naval and internal homeland security systems exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, which will be held in Chennai from 11 to 14 April.

The defence expo, which will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will also see the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 12 April.

Sources said it is during this event that Christopher intends to showcase the “impressive work” done by DRDO under his leadership, ever since he took over as the chief of the organisation in May 2015, to give a message to the PM that he deserves another extension.

The other officers who are fighting it out to lead the DRDO, which has an annual budget of close to Rs 17,900 crore, include P.K. Mehta, who is presently Director General for armament and combat engineering system in the organization; Dr Sudhir Mishra, who is the Director General of BrahMos missile system division of the DRDO; and G. Satheesh Reddy who is presently serving as Director General (Missiles & Strategic Systems) and Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister.

Mehta, according to sources, is being backed by a very powerful leader from a western state, while Mishra is getting the support of some members of Niti Aayog.

Reddy’s appointment, according to sources, was almost finalised last year.

Last year, Christopher, who was given an extension at the last moment, had directed all the labs to remove his photographs from the lab, just two weeks before he was to retire.

Christopher in an internal communication had stated that “Old colonial practice followed by the Services, to display prominently, photos of their Chiefs and Commanders, is followed inadvertently by some of the labs. This practice is also not required. I request all DRDO establishments to display the photos of the President and Prime Minister of India only, and not the Chairman of DRDO. This may please be implemented at the earliest and not later than 15 May 2017”. He had stated that he was among the first few officials in the MoD who never used a red beacon, much before PM’s recent directive came. Sources within the organisation said that all the four people who were in the fray, had an exceptional profile.

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‘Top DRDO and Army officers wrongfully sanctioned Defence projects’

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Prateek Goyal=Monday, April 2, 2018, Sakal Times
Pune: PK Mehta, Director General of city-based Armament and Combat Engineering Systems (ACE), a Defence Research and Development Organisation establishment, and Major General Ajay Gupta, Director of Ahmednagar-based Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) are facing allegations that they have misused their financial powers for sanctioning of fallacious defence projects costing Rs 93 crore.

 “Projects worth Rs 93 crore sanctioned allegedly without Army requirement”

A complaint was received by the Prime Minister Office and DRDO HQ, Ministry of Defence, about sanctioning of projects without project requirement from user – the Army in this case. The matter was reported by a serving officer of Indian Army to MOD and PMO.

The complaint letter dated March 11 states that the three defence projects were aggressively pursued by Gupta and sanctioned by Mehta in later half of 2017, without any requirement from the Army.

Corruption in DRDO
A highly placed source in DRDO lab, on condition of anonymity, told Sakal Times that the process of sanctioning of technology demonstration projects in DRDO has become very casual. The projects are being sanctioned without issuance of PSQRs from users’ (Army, Navy, Air Force) participation and requirement. He said, “It’s high time the Ministry conducts an enquiry in sanctioning of projects as there is lot of corruption going on in DRDO.

The sanctioning authority with Mehta is Rs 50 crore per project while Gupta’s power is Rs 5 crore per project. Together they have sanctioned projects worth Rs 93.67 crore.”

Mehta’s defence
When Sakal Times contacted Mehta, he said, “Many a times, users are not aware of the technology so there are projects which are sanctioned without their requirement. It is sanctioned only after being reviewed by various experts. Even after the sanctioning, we have to look for the outcome, because in research and development there are chances that a project can be a failure.”

“Interest of nation is most important and we have to be independent in the manufacturing of defence projects and we are working on it under ‘Make in India’ programme of government,” added Mehta.

Despite repeated attempts to contact Gupta on phone and through texts, he was not available for comment.

Experts fume
KK Mishra, Joint Director (Retd), DRDO, said, “How can they sanction the projects without requirement from users. Defence projects are not some college projects one should remember that huge amount of money is invested in them. Participation of user is required before sanctioning of such projects. Many a times senior authorities sanction such projects for their own benefits. In past also people have sanctioned projects and gained monetary benefits from them.”

Defence expert Lt Gen DB Shekatkar (Retd) said, “It is surprising that a project has been sanctioned without requirement of user. For procurement of any armament or equipment for armed forces, user requirement is necessary. Such matters should be inquired into by Army headquarters.”

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Army Two Star General made mockery of Indian Army’s reputation in DRDO

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To                                                                                                           27th March 2018

General Bipin Rawat,

Army chief

Army Headquarter, South Block,

DHQ P.O, New Delhi 110011

Subject: Army Two Star General made mockery of Indian Army’s reputation in DRDO.

Sir,

In the name of Services Interaction, DRDO has service officers from all three wings of the armed forces. The officers are posted on a tenure basis.

It is observed that in DRDO more than 90% services officers are assigned logistic/ administrative jobs like Security Officer, Motor Transport Officer, Estate Manager, Material Management and managing scientists officers mess/canteen requirements, etc.

Some smart services officers who are involved in DRDO’s scientists’ bluff game are able to get permanent absorption in the organization and enjoy services as well as the scientist sticker.

But sincere services officers face a lot of embarrassment from the corrupt scientist herd. They face unprecedented transfers in their short tenure, negative remarks on their service records only because they perform the job assigned honestly. For all these unfair means DRDO takes help of senior services officers who are permanently absorbed and are enjoying all kinds of benefits along with the corrupt scientists.

Since the last 30 years, DRDO has not been able to quote a single services officer who has contributed to any remarkable technical contribution to the nation through DRDO (except the services doctors).

The important part of these absorbed services officers is that they are promoted unduly without contribution to the nation or services. Only thing that they protect are the bluffers.

Only one example to prove the aforementioned is Maj. Gen. Ajay Gupta, present Director, VRDE, DRDO, Ahmednagar. If anyone sees his journey in DRDO, he will know how blessed the Maj. Gen. is because of saving culprit scientist as long as he was serving tenure as Director Vigilance, DRDO, HQ. Of the hundreds of complaints filed, he stopped or delayed multiple cases. This reveals the truth about how corruption flourishes in DRDO with the help of service officers.

Maj. Gen. Ajay Gupta, present Director, VRDE, DRDO, Ahmednagar made mockery of Indian Army reputation on 15th February 2018.

As reported by Sakal Times “CBI to probe Major Gen’s role in security breach at VRDE” March 14, 2018”

It is a very serious matter that active Army Maj. Gen, who was earlier served as Director Vigilance & Security. DRDO HQ for long tenure did this misadventure.

As per Sakal Times “When contacted, Maj Gen Gupta said, “I did not conduct any meeting with those foreign nationals. They came to VRDE without any clearance, which is why I went to the gate to turn them back.”

Above statement of Maj Gen Gupta is totally wrong because as per evidences for telling no for meeting he can pass the massage through Security or if he wants to say no personally, how come conveying the same took 30 minutes. 

15th Feb 2018 Dhound Gate, VRDE, DRDO, Ahemadnagar

Foreigners reached at Dhound Gate, VRDE, DRDO, Ahemadnagar-           10:29:56

Director reached in his flag car at Dhound Gate, VRDE. Ahemadnagar-    10:33:12

Something dumped in Foreigner’s vehicle without security         –              10:44:44

Director back in his flag car from Dhound Gate, VRDE Ahemadnagar-      11:00:43 

Maj. Gen spend time with two foreign nationals almost                  –  27.31 Minutes

Second one most important evidence not highlight in news clip that is at 10:44:44 hrs, 15th Feb 2018 Cam – 3 of Dhound gate recorded that some stuff was dumped in foreigner’s white car by VRDE personals, Maj Gen Ajay Gupta was present there  in meeting with foreign national.(Evidence – 12)

As per CCTV recording one local vehicle dealer was present in above said meeting as per sources he was only organized the meeting which itself explanatory that Maj Gen Ajay Gupta very much involve personally with vendors/dealer etc.

Therefore, for the clean reputation of Indian Army a serious inquiry is needed, CBI, IB, MI are have their own course but Army Headquarter should deal this matter in high level. Because the Maj Gen Ajay Gupta approached DRDO Hqrs to send a denial to media on this issue fortunately it did not work since Maj Gen Ajay Gupta was enjoying the post of Dir. Vig & Security for a long time and have lot of inputs of wrong doings of high level DRDO official so he will try to bury the incident and influence the enquiry.

As a citizen of India and tax payer I request you to take appropriate action on above said incident and set exemplary precedent for service officers who are serving in DRDO and working against national interest. Hope we will soon be able to see our grate army practice to dealt such serious security/corruption matter which can dent our national interest

With great hope, Jaihind

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,

21-Sunderwala, Raipur,

Dehradun-248008

Phone – 0135-2787750 | Mobile – 9411114879

Email – prabhudoon@gmail.com | website – www.corruptionindrdo.com

 

Enclosed:  recorded evidence of incident

 Copy to

  1. Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister, 104- South Block, New Delhi-110011
  2. Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI), Indian Army Hq Of MoD, South Block, New Delhi -110011

 

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Army moves to court martial officer accused of sexually abusing subordinate

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By Pradip R. Sagar March 24, 2018 -THE WEEK

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with a group of women Army officers | Facebook account of Indian Army’s ADGPI

The Indian Army has initiated court martial proceedings against the former commanding officer of a Alwar-based military unit after a 27-year-old woman Army captain levelled allegations of sexual harassment against the officer.

Captain Poonam (name changed) joined the Army’s Signals Corps as a technical officer in 2013.

In August 2015, she filed a sexual harassment complaint against the commanding officer of her unit while she was posted at the Alwar military station in Rajasthan.

In her complaint to higher authorities, the woman officer alleged that her commanding officer started sexually abusing her soon after joining her unit. He allegedly touched her private parts and made remarks like “Do you have a boyfriend?”

When her complaint went unheeded, the victim wrote to then Army chief general Dalbir Singh Suhag, saying she approached him “bypassing all channels for redressal of my grievances because an earlier attempt through proper channel failed to provide justice.”

In fact, her father wrote to then defence minister Manohar Parrikar by making an emotional appeal, “If this is the way the Indian Army treats its daughters, I’m not sure if any parent will ever send their daughters to the Army.”

Eventually, Army Headquarters started a court of inquiry in late 2015, when her issue was highlighted by the national media.

After two years of extensive proceedings of the court of inquiry and subsequently the summary of evidences, which established prima facie guilt of the commanding officer, court martial proceedings were ordered to commence from Saturday (March 24).

“General Court Martial of the former Commanding Officer of 12 Field Sub area will commence from March 24,” an Army order stated; the order mentions two brigadiers have been made witnesses.

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CBI to probe Major Gen’s role in security breach at VRDE

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Prateek Goyal
Tuesday, 13 March 2018
‌An official at the CBI office, Pune, requesting anonymity, said, “Initially we are going to conduct an inquiry and if there is any substantial proof, we are going to register a complaint and conduct an open inquiry.”
PUNE: A complaint was submitted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Pune office, on Sunday against the Director of Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar, Maj Gen Ajay Gupta, for allegedly compromising the safety and security of the defence establishment.

He was accused of conducting a 30-minute meeting on February 15 with two foreign nationals and a non-resident Indian, along with officials of a private company, without taking security clearance from the Directorate of Vigilance and Security, New Delhi, a mandatory rule for all DRDO officials prior to meeting any foreign national in any capacity.

VRDE, Ahmednagar is a laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which deals with research, design, development of specialist defence vehicles and is considered to be a highly restricted zone.

An official at the CBI office, Pune, requesting anonymity, said, “Initially we are going to conduct an inquiry and if there is any substantial proof, we are going to register a complaint and conduct an open inquiry.”

THE COMPLAINT
The complaint was initiated  by the security officer to VRDE, appointed by Army Headquarters in New Delhi.

According to the copy of the complaint letter available with Sakal Times, on February 15, at 10 am, the security officer, who is also an army officer, received a call from the security staff at Daund Gate of VRDE, informing him that two foreigners had arrived with representatives of a private company.  The caller stated they were asked by the personal assistant (PA) of the Director to be allowed to enter the complex.

However, the security officer refused to allow them in as they didn’t have the necessary clearance from the office of Directorate Vigilance and Security HQ, New Delhi. Though Gupta pressurised the security staff through his PA, he couldn’t succeed.

The complaint states that at 10.30 am, Gupta compromised the security of VRDE and went outside Daund Gate, where he conducted a half-an-hour meeting with the visitors, which is a security breach and violation of instructions promulgated by the handbook of instructions on Vigilance and Security and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

When contacted, Maj Gen Gupta said, “I did not conduct any meeting with those foreign nationals. They came to VRDE without any clearance, which is why I went to the gate to turn them back.”

VIOLATION OF RULE
A source in DRDO said, “Maj Gen Gupta didn’t follow the SOP. Details of foreigners, including their passport copies, are required for clearance. Even if you are meeting foreigners at their hotel or residence, prior permission is required. A DRDO official cannot meet a foreigner in any capacity without permission, because we deal with the research and development of weapons, as well as other products for our armed forces, and divulging any such information can compromise our national security.”

KK Mishra, retired Joint Director, VRDE, said, “Gupta himself was once director of Vigilance and Security, how can he commit a mistake like this? VRDE does research work on secret projects and there are possibilities that the foreigners you are meeting can be spies, that is why such strict measures are taken.”

A DRDO official, requesting anonymity, said , “Why did the director have to go to gate to turn back any foreign national and why did he spend half an hour over there? It is the duty of security officer or guard on duty to inform visitors to leave the gate area, and not of the Director.”

WHAT THE RULEBOOK SAYS
– According to the handbook of instructions on Vigilance and Security and Standard Operating Procedures, DRDO officials cannot meet any foreigner in any capacity without permission of Directorate of Vigilance and Security.
– Application for security clearance in respect of foreign nationals of prior reference countries should be forwarded to the Directorate at least six weeks before their visit, whereas for foreign nationals of all countries, it should reach the Directorate at least 10 days ahead.
– Meeting with foreign nationals in DRDO establishments can be held only after obtaining security clearance from DRDO HQ. Interaction/ meeting should be avoided at DRDO guest house/ transit facilities.
– No foreign national is allowed to stay at DRDO guest house.

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DRDO lab in Pune provided key parts for Agni-5

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Written by Sushant Kulkarni | Pune |Published: January 19, 2018 5:40 am

The Indian Express

THE nuclear-capable Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-5, which was successfully test-fired on Thursday, included significant contributions by DRDO’s Pune-based High Energy Material Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in the form of five key components. The fifth test of the missile was conducted from the Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha, around 10 am on Thursday. The launch vehicle for the missile has been developed by Ahmednagar-based Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE).

A senior DRDO scientist said, “HEMRL has made some key contributions to Agni-5 missile, especially related to its movement. The lab has developed the gas generator, which takes out the missile from the canister in which it is mounted. Next, the missile had three stages, and the stage separators for all three stages have been designed by the HEMRL. These stage separators consist of linear-shaped charge explosives and separation motors.”

The scientist added, “The laboratory has also contributed the three retarding motors, which are used to slow down the separated part, so that they do not hit each other. The missile also needs to do course correction in between and for that, the side thrust motors have been contributed by HEMRL. Finally, the nose dome separation mechanism, which comes into action in the last stages, has also been developed by the lab.”

The DRDO official said, “The special vehicle on which the 50-tonne missile is mounted, and which provides good mobility, has been designed by VRDE in Ahmednagar
Another scientist said, “The missile, which has a range 5,000 to 6,000 km, can reach the northern-most tip of China. Roughly speaking, Agni-1,2 and 3 were mainly designed considering Pakistan, while 4 and 5 are mainly designed for China. The earlier four tests of the Agni-5 were conducted in 2012, 2013, 2015 and December 2016. After every test, detailed feedback were given to individual labs and adequate changes were made. After more user trials are conducted, the missile will be inducted into the Strategic Forces Command.”

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