Tag Archives: DRDO

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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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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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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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Rustom-II takes to skies as mystery over transfer of its project director continues

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By Pradip R. Sagar February 26, 2018 THE WEEK
Over a month after ‘unceremonious departure’ of the project director of Rustom-II drone A.P.V.S. Prasad, DRDO on Sunday carried out test flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Challakere in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district.

After the test, DRDO came out with a statement that a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV was “successful”.

However, colleagues of Prasad—“scientist-G”who was made project director of the Rustom-II UAV programme of DRDO in 2015—are still curious to know the reason behind Prasad’s sudden transfer from the project, which he actually revived. Insiders claim that Prasad’s departure was linked to his objection to the lobby, which was pushing for a particular engine for the Rustom-II. Rustom was being developed with an Austrian engine, but a few people in the organisation wanted to replace it with the engine made by an Indian firm, despite the engine’s failure to meet the ‘technical parameters’ to be used in the UAV.

Sensing foul play, Scientists Association of Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE)—DRDO’s laboratory making the UAVs—has approached Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to look into the matter (copy of the letter is with The WEEK). Following the complaint, a discreet inquiry is being conducted by the intelligence agencies.

On January 16, 2018, DRDO’s headquarters issued an order for transfer of Prasad to an another DRDO lab on grounds of “public interest”. Incidentally, Prasad was honoured with the best scientist award in 2017.

According to the letter from the ADE association, Prasad, who was in the DRDO for over 30 years, was promoted as the programme director of coveted Rustom-II in 2015. He actually rejuvenating the project, which was lying in a pathetic condition, and within a year of taking over, he managed to carry out first test flight of Rustom-II, the letter reveals.

When contacted, DRDO spokesperson Manish Bhardwaj declined to comment on the issue saying “he was unaware of the internal developments”.

On Sunday, DRDO came out with a statement saying “DRDO successfully flew its Rustom 2 today at its Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Chalakere at Chitradurga. This flight assumes significance due to the fact that this is the first flight in user configuration with higher power engine.”

Unarmed drone Rustom-II is being developed to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the armed forces with an endurance of 24 hours, on the lines of Predator drone of the US forces.

According to the officials, Rustom-II is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads like synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness payloads.

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DRDO successfully carries out test flight of Rustom-2 drone

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PTI | Updated: Feb 25, 2018 , Times of India
                                                                                          HIGHLIGHTS
* Rustom 2 is being developed on the lines of predator drones of the US to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the armed forces with an endurance of 24 hours
*Rustom 2 is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads like synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness payloads

NEW DELHI: India’s premier defence research institute DRDO today carried out “successful” test flight of its Rustom 2 drone, a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), at Chalakere in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district.
Rustom 2 is being developed on the lines of predator drones of the US to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles for the armed forces with an endurance of 24 hours, officials said.
“DRDO successfully flew its Rustom 2 today at its Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) at Chalakere at Chitradurga. This flight assumes significance due to the fact that this is the first flight in user configuration with higher power engine,” a statement read.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said the test flight was “successful” and all its parameters were “normal”.
Rustom 2 is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads like synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence systems and situational awareness payloads, officials said.
DRDO chairman S Christopher, its Director General of Aeronautical System CP Ramanarayanan, DG Electronics and Communication Systems J Manjula and other senior scientists witnessed the test flight.
The around Rs 1,500-crore UAV project was initiated considering requirement of the the Army, Navy and Air Force.
The UAV has been designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of the DRDO, and aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and Bharat Electronics Ltd are its production partners.

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DRDO drone crash-lands on farmer’s land in Karnakata

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TNN | Updated: Feb 22, 2018,


                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

NEW DELHI: An unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) being tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) crash-landed on an agricultural plot in Nayakanahatti, near Challakere in Chitradurga district, about 200km away from the state capital.
The drone, which had a camera attached to it, was launched to keep a watch on the outer perimeter of the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range (CATR).
Sources said the aircraft took off from the facility and later lost contact with the command centre. No injury or damage was reported.

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DRDO testing drone falls in agricultural field in Karnataka’s Nayakanahatti

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By Express News Service | Published: 21st February 2018
CHITRADURGA: A drone operated by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for surveillance crash-landed at an agriculture field belonging to Bangarappa of Doreyagalahatti village near Nayakanahatti of Chitradurga district on Wednesday morning.

The drone which was launched to test the capabilities of its surveillance from the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range (CATR) of Challakere taluk took off well from outer perimeter of the range, but fell in the field at around 8 am said Bangarappa. This is the first time a drone fell down during the testing in Chitradurga district.

Scientists Saravana, Shivabalasubramanyam and others visited the crash site and collected the drone and other equipment and took it back to their centre.

The 20 kg weighing drone lost connection with the radar immediately after taking off from the testing arena and fell within a radius of three kilometers from the range in a Ragi field. However, no problems, loss of valuables or life has been reported.

Palamma, an agricultural labourer who was working in the field was shocked when the drone fell on the field. Speaking to Express she questioned, ‘I am still in a state of shock, if it fell on me what might be my fate?’.

‘When I was watering the Ragi plants, the drone came down very fast, I feared to its speed and ran for my safety,” she added.

Bangarappa said, “Falling of drone in my field has created a fear psychosis in me and my neighbouring fields. DRDO without consulting farmers is conducting drone testing programmes nearby the fields. They should consult farmers in future to avoid such accidents.”

If any casualties would have taken place during the accident who would have been responsible, he asked.

According to a scientist, the drone was fitted with a camera and was being tested to conduct surveillance on the borders to ensure that no intruders enter into the Indian territories. Immediately on knowing the failure of the drone, scientists and officials of the CATR arrived at the crash spot and collected the drone from the spot. Nayakanahatti police are investigating the incident.

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Who is Dr VK Saraswat, the new member of NITI Aayog?

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Moneylife Digital Team

06 January 2015   

Dr Saraswat, as former chief of DRDO has been also red-flagged by the Comptroller General of Defence Audit-CGDA over his several decisions that resulted in the Defence Ministry curtailing his financial powers

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) appointed Dr VK Saraswat as full-time member of newly established National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog. Dr Saraswat is former Secretary of Defence (Research & Development- R&D), but is more known as one of the high profile former chiefs of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). However, his inning at the DRDO was marred by controversies resulting in the government turning down his extension. He was even awarded a jail sentence for contempt of court.

Dr Saraswat was the key scientist in the development of the Prithvi missile and its induction in the Indian armed forces.

A PhD in Combustion Engineering, Dr Saraswat started his career in DRDO in 1972 at Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), he was responsible for the development of the country’s first Liquid Propulsion Engine, DEVIL. As Project Director of Prithvi, he steered the design, development, production and induction of the first indigenous Surface-to-Surface missile system into the armed forces. He is regarded as one of the key scientists in the team of former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who is said to have had a deep influence on Dr Saraswat.

He was conferred the Padma Shri in 1998. He was also conferred the Padma Bhusan by the Government of India in 2013.

However, his career was not without controversies. In 2012, Dr Saraswat took a stand contradictory to the then Army Chief, General VK Singh, who had labelled Tatra trucks as substandard. Talking about Tatra trucks at a press conference, Dr Saraswat had said, “Tatra truck is an outstanding truck…They have a very good cross country capability and can move at good speeds.”

Earlier in 2010 too, he had torn into the armed forces for failing to overcome their ‘temptation’ to induct latest imported weapon systems. Speaking at the National Technology Day in May where the then Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, Admiral Nirmal Verma and Gen VK Singh were also present, Dr Saraswat had said, “Services also must understand that while the temptation may be overwhelming to field proven, state-of-the-art imported systems, they too have a role to play in the country’s economic and industrial growth. No foreign system can be customised to completely address our long-term requirements.”

Interestingly, as of now, both Gen Singh and Dr Saraswat have become part of the Narendra Modi government. While the former chief of DRDO has become full-time member of NITI Aayog, the former Army Chief is the Minister of State of External Affairs and Minister of State (independent charge) for North East Region, in the Modi government.

In a September 2012 report, the New Indian Express had said, “…a nightmare was revealed recently when Defence Minister AK Antony ordered the Comptroller General of Defence Audit (CGDA) to do a secret audit of India’s equivalent of the futuristic workshop of James Bond’s ‘Q’ — the Defence Research and Development Organisation that goes by the handle DRDO.”

Quoting the CGDA, the newspaper had said, “DRDO has been developing equipment which is either sub-standard or have extended deadlines and additional budgets. Many of the projects have been sanctioned without the requisite government approval. Only 10% of projects have come to the Ministry for clearance. Corruption and nepotism exists in the upper echelons and there is an exodus of qualified scientists.”

“The CGDA has questioned why he (Dr Saraswat) granted Rs2.88 crore to a mathematics institute to develop a futuristic radar when its scientists are not even remotely connected with research relating to the project. Incidentally, Dr Saraswat is the president of the institute’s governing body. The audit also stated that the institute lacked expert manpower and started recruitment only after getting DRDO funds that were released without due diligence. A Dehradun scientific lab was granted Rs14 crore to develop a communication link, while the institute headed by Dr Saraswat was also sanctioned Rs2.98 crore to develop the same technology — it doesn’t have even basic facilities like computers for individual researchers,” the report says.

Although DRDO denied all the observations of the CGDA report, it affected the career of Dr Saraswat.

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RTI – CVO – MoD Regarding Inquiry Status of Corruption Complaints of DMSRDE, DRDO, Kanpur

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To                                                                                                           8 February 2018

Shri H.M. Kundlia

U/Secretary &  CPIO

Room No – 340, Office of Director of Vigilance,

B- Wing Sena Bhawan,

Rajaji Marg, New Delhi -110105

 

Hello,

Kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 in respect of complaints against Dr. Arvind Kumar Saxena, Ex Director, DMSRDE, Kanpur and other scientists as per CVC the complaints has been sent to CVO, MOD for further action, with reference No. 1323/2014/Vigilance 9, 3617/2014/Vigilance 9, 5022/2014/Vigilance 9, 13248/2014/Vigilance 9, etc.

  1. Please provide the present status of all my complaints received by your office till date from CVC.
  2. Please provide the copy of replies received from DRDO by CVO, MOD in respect of my complaints.
  3. Please provide the copies of your forwarding letter to DRDO in respect of my all complaints.

 

Regards

 

Prabhu Dandriyal

21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun-248008

Phone – 0135- 2787750, Mobile- 9411114879,

e-mail id prabhudoon@gmail.com   website – www.corruptionindrdo.com

 

Registration Number     MODEF/R/2018/50290

Drdo

Army officers are in predicament or compelled position in DRDO

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To                                                                                              7th February 2018
Hon’ble Smt Nirmala Sitharaman,
Defence Minister,
104- South Block
New Delhi-110011

Subject:  Army officers are in predicament or compelled position in DRDO

Madam,

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.

Since more than 30 years I have witnessed that scientists use these services to satisfy their ego issues and services officers for better APAR keep mum for the sake of their career.

Some smart services officers who are involved in DRDO’s scientists’ bluffer 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 faced unprecedented transfers in their short tenure, negative remarks on their service records only because they performed honestly the job assigned. For all these unfair means DRDO took 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 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 fast 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 serving tenure, Director Vigilance, DRDO, HQ. Of the hundreds of complaints filed, he stopped or delayed himself. This itself reveals the truth about how corruption flourishes in DRDO with the help of service officers.

In DIPR, DRDO Group Capt. served continuous 8 years and again he got the posting in DIPR. This implies that he is very useful in research and contributing national or internationally or some linguistic connection is working.

It is not understandable that one side our honorable minister of state for defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre said in the Rajya Sabha that there is a shortage of over 9,000 officers in Indian Army & Navy and on the other hand DRDO is utilizing services officers in sundry jobs.

Please refer to enclosed DRDO, DOP letter no DOP/04/48013/01/Policy dated 30 September 2004 subjected “ Utilization of Services Officers Posted on Tenure Basis to DRDO”. Nothing has changed till date.

Please refer to enclosed RTI, RTI Reply, First Appeal, First Appeal reply of DRDO, which reveals the pathetic situation of service officers who want interview with DG, DRDO and are not able to know the interview request letter status.

It is not understandable how DRDO has become so powerful, which was created to strengthen the services instead of crushing their moral.

 

Jai Ho.

 

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal,

21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun-248008

Phone 0135-2787750, Mobile 9411114879

Email prabhudoon@gmail.com website-www.corruptionindrdo.com

Enclosed

  1. Photo Copy of DRDO, DOP letter no DOP/04/48013/01/Policy dated 30 September 2004
  2. Copy of RTI request, RTI Reply and reply of First appeal
    Copy of DRDO, DOP letter no DOP/04/48013/01/Policy dated 30 September 2004