श्रीमान. आगरा की महत्वपूर्ण डीआरडीओ रक्षा संस्थान ए डी आर डी ई में, पिछले शुक्रवार दिनांक 28 जून 2019 को एक वैज्ञानिक श्री आदर्श वीर ने ड्यूटी के समय संस्थान परिसर में बीपीएमएस यूनियन लीडर, क्लास 3 कर्मचारी पर जान लेवा हमला किया । इस हमले में एक अन्य वैज्ञानिक श्री बंसल ने भी उनका साथ दिया । घटना की सूचना रक्षा संस्थान के सुरक्षा अधिकारी कर्नल व अन्य कर्मचारियों द्वारा 100 नंबर पर दी गई और पुलिस घटना स्थल पर पहुंची और पुलिस कांस्टेबल 1828 श्री जानकी नंदन ने आहत भारतीय मजदूर संघ नेता को जिला अस्पताल आगरा ले गया जहां आहत श्री कृष्णकांत दुबे की जांच की गयी और डॉकटर द्वारा उनके सिर में 5 टाँके लगवाए गए और पाया कि गंभीर चोट भी आंख के पास है। मेडिकल रिपोर्ट की कॉपी और घायल व्यक्ति की फोटो के साथ संलग्न है।
सदर पुलिस थाने में घटना की रिपोर्ट के लिए रक्षा संस्थान कर्मी श्री कृष्णकांत दुबे को ले गए, लेकिन निदेशक और उनके पुलिस मित्र के दबाव में उन्होंने शिकायत दर्ज नहीं की। शिकायत की प्रति संलग्न है
सदर थाना, आगरा में प्राथमिक सूचना पंजीकृत नहीं करने पर श्री कृष्णकांत दुबे
ने ऑनलाइन पोर्टल में भी शिकायत दर्ज कर दी और शिकायतसंख्या31621046071800005दिनांक 29 जून 2019 है (शिकायत की प्रति संलग्न है ।)
आदरणीय योगी जी यह विश्वास करना कठिन है कि इस तरह की महत्वपूर्ण रक्षा प्रयोगशाला में कार्य संस्कृति अपने निचले स्तर पर पहुंच गई है, भारत की जनता इस तरह के निदेशक से रक्षा अनुसंधान
कार्यो की उम्मीद कैसे कर सकते हैं। इसलिए, इस वरिष्ठ कार्यकर्ता को सुरक्षा देने और न्याय देने के लिए यह विनम्र अनुरोध है कि वे पुलिस को निर्देश दें कि वे इस घटना दर्ज करें और निदेशक और उसके तथाकथित पुलिस अधिकारी मित्र के दबाव में काम न करते हुए उचित जांच कर सही आख्या
प्रस्तुत करे ।
धन्यवाद
प्रभु डंडरियाल
रक्षा क्षेत्र में व्याप्त भ्रष्टाचार और भाई-भतीजावाद के खिलाफ समर्पित वरिष्ठ नागरिक
लहू लुहान चोटिल श्री कृष्ण कान्त दुबे भारतीय मजदूर संघ, वरिष्ठ कार्यकर्ता
मेडिकल रिपोर्ट की कॉपी
शिकायत की प्रति
ऑनलाइन पोर्टलशिकायत संख्या 31621046071800005दिनांक 29 जून 2019 है
डीआरडीओ रक्षा संस्थान ए डी आर डी ई के संस्थान कर्मी श्री कृष्ण कान्त दुबे
को
न्याय दिलाने व संस्थान में
व्याप्त अराजकता को खत्म करने के लिए धरने पर
लहू लुहान चोटिल श्री कृष्ण कान्त दुबे भारतीय मजदूर संघ, वरिष्ठ कार्यकर्ता K K Dubey application for FIR page 1K K Dubey application for FIR page 2Onile FIR Registraion डीआरडीओ रक्षा संस्थान ए डी आर डी ई के संस्थान कर्मी श्री कृष्ण कान्त दुबे को न्याय दिलाने व संस्थान में व्याप्त अराजकता को खत्म करने के लिए धरने पर
By Express News Service Published: 15th September 2016 – The New Indian Express NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started analyzing allegations of Brazilian aviation major Embraer hiring a UK-based agent and paying commissions to swing the $208 million deal for three Emb-145 aircraft inked with India during UPA rule in 2008.
The government had asked the agency to probe in allegations of corruption in the purchase of three Embraer aircraft for Defence Research and Development Organisation in 2008
The agency sources said officials are going through the reference and any decision to start a probe in the matter will be taken soon after analysing all the documents.
If the agency is satisfied that it has enough prima facie evidence to initiate an FIR, it will start or else it might register a preliminary enquiry to gather enough material for registering a regular case, they said.
Government had stated that the allegations were of a serious nature and the CBI will probe.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had earlier this week said that, “If there is a criminal angle, then the CBI will probe as the Ministry cannot”. “If only procedural issues are involved, then the Defence Ministry can do an internal investigation,” he had said.
The deal for purchase of three Embraer aircraft during the UPA regime has kicked up dust with US authorities going into alleged payment of kickbacks. The deal has come under the scanner of the US Justice Department which has been probing Embraer for alleged payment of bribes to secure contracts.
Soon after, the reports of irregularity surfaced, the DRDO has already sought a report from the Brazilian firm, which has said it has been looking into graft allegations over the last five years.
DRDO investigation through report from Brazilian firm is a separate investigation. Parallel investigation has been started by CBI
The Special Investigation Team probing AgustaWestland bribery scandal will also probe this scam.
The deal was signed in 2008 between Embraer and the DRDO for three aircraft equipped with indigenous radars for AEW&C (airborne early warning and control systems). The first “modified” aircraft was delivered to DRDO in 2011, with the other two following later.
After several missed deadlines, the AEW&C project is now slated to be completed by December. Present DRDO chief S Christopher was the AEW&C programme director and head of the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) before he was chosen to head DRDO in May 2015 by the NDA government.
Sources claimed that role of the committee, comprised of officials from IAF and DRDO is also under scanner, which shortlisted the Embraer deal.
Brazil’s top newspaper, the ‘Folha de Sao Paulo’, had reported on September 8 that the possible bribery in the 2008 Indian deal was under the scanner of the US justice department, which has been investigating Embraer since 2010, after a contract with the Dominican Republic raised suspicion. The scope of the investigation has now been widened to examine Embraer’s dealings with eight other countries, including India and Saudi Arabia.
To, 18th May 2015 Shri Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, Ministry of Defence, Romm No -104, South Block, New Delhi-110011
Subject: J&K HC orders FIR against teacher who fails to write essay on cow- DRDO having hundreds of such cases where DRDO officials don’t have recognized certificates/diplomas/degrees
Sir,
It is observed that DRDO has a 30000 strong scientific and technical force and but unfortunately output is not corresponding with manpower strength, it is exceptionally very low in compare to any other organizations or corporate.
Reports are showing so many reasons and excuses for achievements in development of technology like inadequate allotment of budget, unavailability of latest components and systems from developed countries, not given free hand for procurement, not giving free hand for recruitments of manpower etc.
One of the real reasons is incompetency in lower level to higher level of DRDO organization.
If you see the level and quality of qualification of DRDO, a 30000 strong scientific and technical force you will see a very unbelievable scenario.
The real qualified manpower who are having a certificate/diplomas/degrees/post doctoral research/ having good number of published papers in national and international journals/ having name patents but under pressure put their bosses name or bosses blue eyed names without contribution/researchers are doing PhD’s under them, all these kind officials fail to get proper growth in DRDO. Such Skilled officials, if their family commitment allows, then the first thing they do is quit DRDO. Otherwise they accept the current scenario as their destiny.
The officials who have the manipulated certificates/diplomas/degrees/post doctoral research in private deemed universities where they are instrumental to in siphoning the DRDO funds in the name of CARS, Grants-in-Aid. Grants-in-Aid Scheme: Research sponsored in academic institutions under the extramural research (ER) etc / having good number of published papers but as a second, third fourth author, patents in their name but forcefully entered their names etc. These kinds of DRDO officials are at the top of DRDO each and every where.
Sir, unfortunately this is the real harsh situation of DRDO, since we are feeling that you are in the process of revamping DRDO, so this is the real time to look and check even verified from out sourcing like the corporate world is adopted before giving responsibility to someone because you are giving a free hand to spend 10000 cr taxpayers money, the educational professional background of each and every DRDO officials.
Any qualification enhancement from DIAT, Amity, JNTU, Shoolini University and other private deemed universities are mostly by manipulations. DIAT governed by DRDO, rest all private deemed universities from last 15 years enjoying lot of funds from DRDO in the name of CARS, Grants-in-Aid. Grants-in-Aid Scheme: Research sponsored in academic institutions under the extramural research (ER) etc and freely distributing all kind of qualification M Tech, MBA’s, lot unrecognized subject P h D’s and private university self designed degrees/diplomas.
When you will see the data of these DRDO officials you will automatically realize the reason of failure of DRDO.
Sir, above subject’s court decision attracted me to write this letter that I have collected so many evidences of forge qualification evidences of DRDO officials, and as per DOP, DRDO, Dr A K Singh’s letter it is clearly established such acquired qualification were not even verified and encouragement money was also distributed to hundreds of DRDO officials.
Sir, it is requested in the national interest through study is required from outside agency GOI can decide before allotting funds for projects whether the DRDO officials qualified and capable and they are having background knowledge of proposed projects, till date country is witnessing DRDO’s technology demonstration drama which they are able to display with the fully support from outside firms Indian or international.
If you want the evidences which I have collected in last 10 years, I am ready to provide.
PTI | May 16, 2015, 03.39 PM IST – Times of India SRINAGAR:The J&K High Court made a teacher write an essay on cow and solve a class IV maths problem in an open court and ordered slapping a case against him when he failed, inviting strong observations from the judge who wanted “soulless” authorities to close down education “tuck shops”.
The direction came yesterday when Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar was hearing a petition challenging appointment of Mohammad Imran Khan as Rehbar-e-Taleem (education guide) teacher in a school in south Kashmir.
The petitioner had alleged that Khan’s certificates — issued by Board of Higher Secondary Education Delhi and Global Open University, Nagaland were not recognised. The marksheet issued to the respondent by the Board of Higher Secondary Education Delhi showed he had secured 74 per cent, 73 per cent and 66 per cent in Urdu, English and Maths respectively.
The court asked a senior counsel to give a simple line for translation from English to Urdu and vice-versa but the teacher failed.
The teacher was then asked to write an essay on ‘cow’ in Urdu, but he failed. Khan sought permission to write the essay outside the court room, which was granted but he failed again.
Khan, who claimed he had better hold on Mathematics, was then asked to solve a maths problem for 4th graders.
As he failed yet again, a visually perturbed Justice Attar said,”In this situation, what would be the fate of the state has to be only visualised. The school going children ….would pass out as blockheads.”
“The authorities, responsible to ensure that the stream of academics and education is not polluted in the state of J&K, however, in view of the facts, which have surfaced in this case, have acted as soulless bodies with ray-less eyes, as they have criminally condoned and over-looked the Himalayan blunders committed in procuring the academic degrees,” the court observed.
PTI | May 12, 2015, 07.40 PM IST – The Times of India NEW DELHI: Delhi Police has registered an FIR against founder of Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM) Arindam Chaudhuri based on a complaint by the University Grant Commission (UGC), which he has questioned while denying any wrong doing.
In its complaint the UGC has said the IIPM was “misleading”, “cheating” and “fooling” its students as it was not recognised by any regulatory body, police said.
“We have registered an FIR under Section 420 of IPC against IIPM Dean Arindam Choudhari and his father Malayendra Kisor Chaudhuri, who is a Director, based on the UGC complaint. We are probing the matter,” Joint CP (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said.
A notice has been sent to both of them to join the investigation, police said.
The UGC, in its complaint, has said that despite the fact its courses are not authorised, the institute is “fooling” the students by charging a hefty fee from them.
IIPM, however, has refuted all such allegations, saying that the institute was not cheating its students.
“It’s sad on a day when we launch a new program promoting entrepreneurship, the need of the hour, on the lines of our Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ dream, some sections of the media have decided to pick up a case that is 6 months old. Having said, that it’s nothing new,” IIPM dean Arindam Choudhari said in a statement.
“UGC and AICTE keep themselves in news by targeting IIPM with their lies because we have stayed consciously out of their purview and accused them of massive corruption”, he said.
“We have never claimed that the institute is recognised by any statutory body nor have we claimed we give degrees. We give certificates and write clearly everywhere that “students interested in de jure recognition of IIPM’s programmes need not apply to IIPM! Its written clearly since 1970s in our prospectus and in our websites since it came into effect,” the IIPM dean also said.
“I don’t realise how can this amount to cheating. We have faced this problem earlier also and have come out clean. This time as well, we will fight this. We have been cooperating with the police ever since the first notice came and will continue to do so as law abiding citizens,” he added.
To 14th April 2015 Hon’ble Shri Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister,Room No -104, South Block,New Delhi-110011
Subject: Submission of the facts of deliberate Acts and omissions of illegality, criminal offences under IPC 1860, misconducts under CCS Conduct Rules, 1964 and criminal misconducts under prevention of corruption Act 1988 committed in 2005 for conducting discreet independent enquiry and for registration of FIR against the prima facie guilty officers of AFHQ Cadre of the O/o JS (T) & CAO, MoD and DRDS officers of DRDO, MoD posted in DRDO HQ in 2005.
Sir, Please find the facts of deliberate Acts and omissions of illegality, criminal offences under IPC 1860, misconducts under CCS Conduct Rules, 1964 and criminal misconducts under prevention of corruption Act 1988 committed in 2005 for conducting discreet independent enquiry and for registration of FIR against the prima facie guilty officers of AFHQ Cadre of the O/o JS(T) & CAO, MoD and DRDS officers of DRDO, MoD posted in DRDO HQ in 2005. The Acts & Omissions are enclosed herewith in Annexure ‘A’ in a tabular form containing pages.
It is requested to conducted discreet complete enquiry in this regard exclusively from an independent authority like CVO of MoD and kindly register FIR against all those concerned retired and serving officers of AFHQ Cadre and DRDS Cadre of DRDO posted in DRDO HQ in 2005 if it is corroborated on documentary basis that they indeed committed the offences & misconducts mentioned in the Annexure ‘A’ enclosed herewith.
It is additionally request and caution your good self that the present regime in DRDO headed by Scientists in the O/o DOP, DHRD, CC R&D (HR) are in habit not to supply or adopt dilatory tactics in supplying the concerned original documents to the inquiry committee or they might even dilute the whole issue by constituting high power fact finding committee of scientists of DRDO who always put their best efforts to save the prima facie guilty officers.
It is therefore requested that all the concerned original documents available in DRDO HQ, New Delhi may kindly be called for in the O/o CVO, MoD at a very short notice within in a maximum period of a week so that saviors & sympathizers of the prima facie guilty officers are not able to protect the guilty officers.
I may kindly be intimated about the final outcome of my formal complaint at address for communication.
Annexure ‘B’ (containing 04 (four) pages) of the copy of the Advt. published at page no 28 of the employment news dated 06-12 August 2005, copy of the RTI application dated 25-04-2014 submitted to the CPIO of DRDO HQ, New Delhi and copy of the RTI Reply dated 01-05-2014
To 13th April 2015 Hon’ble Shri Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister,Room No -104, South Block,New Delhi-110011
Subject: Corruption in SASE, DRDO, Chandigarh
Sir,
Some of DRDO scientists/officials are so expertise in corruption that they can squeeze money even from the scrap also.
Last year October 2014, SASE, DRDO tried to cleared his scrap material at J&K more than 100 tons.
The Firm M/s Jai Mata Trader, Chandigarh was awarded contract to lift the Iron scrap etc vide order no No MPG/Sale Order/2014-15/8212/01/Dis dated 17th July 2014.
The above order was given to lift 55000 Kgs @ Rs 23.92/Kg but as per SASE store records the vendor only lifted 37020 Kgs due to unavailability of trucks and labuors.
As per sources the six trucks loaded from scrap site out of six trucks, Five (5) trucks were caught and detained by J&K Police in Ramban Police station for the charge of overloading etc, the FIR was registered all formalities were done and case is pending in the court, J&K
M/s Jai Mata Trader, Chandigarh lifted 37020 Kgs and paid only Rs 907122.00 to SASE, DRDO Six trucks loaded (over loaded).
It means each truck lifted 6170 Kg scarp only then how can these trucks were detained by J&K police for overloading charges.
Sir, if DRDO weighing scale is such a way calibrated then you can imagine the fate of data we are receiving from SASE, DRDO, will our services march with these data, it is big question?
Sir, Sh Ashwagosh Ganju, Sc G, Director, Snow & Avalanche Study Establishment is new in corruption business but few of his aides are master in this field, the scale for judging individuals corruption capacity in DRDO is that the profile, if the person got so many DRDO in house awards without contributing anything like papers published in international journals /patents etc or member of Dr V K Saraswat’s favorite society. It means he possess the doctorate of corruption. In case of Sh Ashwagosh Ganju, he is only member of Dr V K Saraswat’s favorite society.
Sir, It is requested that please take a appropriate action to protect one of the important lab of DRDO which is very useful to combat natural calamities, but corruption is gradually percolate in SASE, will send you more after homework.
To 20th February 2015
Hon’ble
Shri Manohar Parrikar,
Defence Minister,
Min. of Defence, Room No -104, South Block
New Delhi-110011
SUBJECT
Request for assign scientific work to DR. A.K. SINGH, DIRECTOR, Dte of Personnel (DOP), DRDO HQ so that he could not influence the probe and temper the evidences and not able to protect DRDO’s corrupt officials and also not able to support corrupt DRDO Directors to harass the whistle blowers.
Honourable Sir,
It is requested to sake of DRDO image, productivity, to save money to curtailing in court cases, to protect honest scientists and whistle blowers please reshuffle immediately the DRDO scientists who are involved in non scientific assignments since 10 -15 years and main reason of DRDO’s current non productive image. These incompetent scientists are great example of exemplary carrier growth without doing science in DRDO. Dr. A.K. Singh, Director, Dte of Personnel (DOP), DRDO HQ case is on the top, Dr R K Jain who is the boss of Scientists recruitment centre master mind of pushing all incompetent scientists on the top and country facing tremendous loss in respect of technology development, in respect of wastage in money and he was enjoyed his three consequent out staying promotion without doing science.
Sir, if you ask young real scientists, not incompetent ones, who come through LDCE will certainly going to pin point these two great scientists the main reason behind the downfall of DRDO.
The DRDO is great organisation in term of HR qualification enhancement. There are hundreds of examples where someone joined DRDO as peon/security guard or casual labour or Technician and within five to 10 years year span he become Technical Officer or in some cases scientists.
If you enquire DRDO regarding this kind of example of fake qualifications you will found thousands of degree diploma cases from unrecognised centre without doing study only managed. This is the major reason of DRDO’s corruption, nepotism and above all degradation of DRDO HR quality.
On 15th February 2015 DRDO, RAC conducted the limited departmental examination for scientist ‘B’ post for DRDO’s employees, you will find more than 90% cases candidates not having properly UGC or ACETE or DCE approved degrees. The certificates they enclosed are from recognised universities or institutes but the process of acquiring degrees are totally not recognised as per UGC norms.
And best part is that these two duos (Dr A K Singh & Dr. R K Jain) are the key persons to organise the game plan the application format was designed such a way that the degree acquiring process not able to revealed the ineligibility of candidate..
But interestingly till date they have not found single case only with the help of RTI four high profile cases were exposed resulted two scientists job was annulled and two are under process and Ex Defence Minister approved for CBI inquiry on 14th October 2013 and also given approval for reconsider the DRDO recruitments through UPSC,
Sir, if government is serious about to revamp DRDO and make it productive worth organisation than first thing scarp RAC & CEPTAM immediately. These two bodies are engaged almost more than 25 scientists and number of technical manpower. Both establishments are den of corruption and nepotism. Because of these two establishments DRDO getting third grade manpower.
Main evidence of these establishments working screens the recruitments and promotions and court cases and RTIs which are sufficient to justify the above statement.
I have filed following complaints against Dr. A.K. Singh, Director, Dte of Personnel (DOP), DRDO HQ.
DM letter table 20 feb
In this connection I got Letter No. DVS/02/2053/P/63 dated 12 Feb 2015 from Dte of Vigilance & Security, DRDO, Min. of Defence, DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi for confirmation to my complaint dated 14 Nov 2014 to Hon’ble Defence Minister (mentioned at sr. no. 4 above). Copy enclosed as Annexure-1 and I sent the confirmation vide letter dated 20 Feb 2015. Copy enclosed as Annexure-2.
Sir, on 25 March 2014 the Supreme Court of India told N. Srinivasan to step down as BCCI president so that a fair investigation may be conducted. The court found it “nauseating” that he should hold on to the post despite various courts censuring him.
On 27th November,2014 the Supreme Court said that N Srinivasan’s conflict of interest was “obvious” as he also owned a team i.e. CSK in the IPL. The court also asked BCCI if it was open to have fresh polls for a new board without N Srinivasan.
Accordingly Mr. N.Srinivasan announced that he was stepping aside from the post of President of the BCCI until the probe was completed ostensibly.
[CIVIL APPEAL NO. 4235 OF 2014 with CIVIL APPEAL NO.4236 OF 2014 and SLP (C) No.34228 of 2014 , Supreme Court Of India]
In the light of the above facts stated above, I kindly request that for fair probe on complaints against Dr. A.K. Singh, Director, DOP, and request assigned him some other scientific assignment as per his credentials so that he could not influence the probe and temper the evidences. Because he always boast up that his father was great police officer and that’s why I have able to retain bungalow at 14-B, Mother Teresa Crescent, New Delhi-110011 along with ministers. He also protects corrupt DRDO officials and supports them in lodging false FIR against the whistle blowers.
As Dr. A.K. Singh, Director (Personnel), DRDO HQ, New Delhi using his position to harass number of DRDO scientists like
Dr Gausal Azam Kahn, Sc ‘D’, DIPAS on the demand of his sister Dr Sahshi Bala Singh, Director, DIPAS He cooked false charge sheet against him who was joined DRDO direct Scientist D in DRDO NRI scheme,
Sh N P Gupta, Sc ‘C’, DMSRDE a computer science background scientist thrown to Life Science Lab, DRL, Tezpur just because to protect corrupt Dr A K Saxena, Director, DMSRDE,
Sh D Muthuraja, Scientist E was shunted to ACME Nashik without work as he did complaint against the wrong deeds of Sh Guruprasad, Director, R&D Eng. of making Rath in R&D premises without any fear and wasted precious poor tax payers money and DRDO manpower (two parliamentarian already raised question in zero hour on 18th December 2014)
As per sources you might be received answer from Sh Guru Parsad , Director, R&D Eng., DRDO, Pune the bullock story “making of Rath was not just devotional activity but also interesting technical task. Apart from saving bullock burden”
On last August DRDO award ceremony our Prime Minister mentioned to DRDO scientist please do something to reduce weight of our soldiers uniform like light weight shoes etc. That time our PM not aware of DRDO’s kind hearted scientists who already spent 5 corers Rs to saving bullock burden.
Dr A K Singh gave his all administrative supports to harass above scientists, Sir there are 100 of cases available their Dr A K Singh supporting Lab directors in ACR/APAR cases, promotions cases specially in minorities etc, Sir, It is requested please ask the total amount spend by DRDO in various court cases like CATs/District Courts/High courts and Supreme Court in Dr A K Singh tenure it is self explanatory of his administrative capability and degrading HR quality and image of DRDO.
Tuesday, Dec 3, 2013, 19:34 IST | Place: Gwalior | Agency: PTI
Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE) scientist Prabhat Garg, against whom a research scholar has levelled allegations of sexual harassment, on Tuesday surrendered before police here.
Police said Garg turned himself in to University Police Station, reportedly after pressure built up on him by police and also his family members.
In her complaint, the research scholar had accused Garg of sexually harassing her during 2010-11 when she was pursuing her work under him at the city-based institution.
Police said the woman discontinued her research due to “uncomfortable situation” she was experiencing under her guide, that is Garg, and also for her marriage.
The woman suffered sexual harassment quietly till her marriage and also because of her career but when Garg allegedly did not spare her even after her marriage, she disclosed the matter to her husband.
The couple then reached Gwalior and lodged a complaint with police who in turn registered an FIR against Garg under sections sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506-B (punishment for criminal intimidation) of IPC.
Garg was produced before a local court which remanded him two-day police custody.
Even as Central Bureau of Investigation detectives have begun questioning Ravi Rishi, the London-based millionaire businessman at the heart of the showdown between the Defence Ministry and Chief of the Army Staff V.K. Singh, fresh details have begun to emerge of the truck deal that precipitated the crisis.
Rajan Mukherjee, the general manager of West Bengal-based Ural India, has told The Hindu that General Singh — then General Officer-Commanding of the Eastern Command — had requested the firm to provide trucks for testing in 2008, after Tatra trucks sold by Mr. Rishi’s firm “miserably failed 17 Mountain for performing Quick Reaction Team and reconnaissance duties in [the] super-high altitude areas of northern Sikkim.”
“Defects”
“During the trials,” Mr. Mukherjee said in an e-mail to The Hindu, “the Tatra vehicle developed defects in engine assembly, whereas Ural’s engine performance was satisfactory even after running about 600 km at high altitude.”
Mr. Rishi owns Vectra, a conglomerate which has a controlling stake in Czech and Slovak-based specialist truck firm Tatra, which has supplied the Indian Army since 1986.
Rashi Verma, a Joint Secretary at the Defence Ministry, had said last week that the government had “never received any complaint from the armed forces” — a statement which suggests the Eastern Command either chose not to pass on its problems with the Tatra to the army headquarters in New Delhi, or that its reports were suppressed by higher authorities.
In an exclusive interview to The Hindu published on March 26, General Singh had said he was offered a Rs. 14-crore bribe, which, it emerged, was linked to an officer allegedly representing Tatra to clear a consignment of 600 trucks.
There is no information available so far if Ural India’s trucks were the sole platform tested by the Eastern Command in Northern Sikkim and if so, why. Ural is co-owned by Kolkata-based magnate J.K. Saraf, who knew Gen. Singh during his tenure as Eastern Army Commander. There is no allegation, however, of the relationship having caused improper influence to be exercised.
Mr. Mukherjee’s claims, however, stand in stark contrast to earlier statements by VRS Natarajan, the head of public-sector giant BEML, which co-manufactures Tatra trucks in India. Mr. Natarajan claimed that Ural India’s trucks had been knocked out of competition in the ongoing trials, a claim Mr. Mukherjee has denied in his e-mail to The Hindu, adding that his firm is considering “appropriate action.”
The BEML chief, however, has since been backed by Defence Research and Development Organisation chief V.K. Saraswat, who said Tatra trucks were “outstanding.” Both BEML and Tatra have said they are considering legal action against General Singh, but provided no details of their course of action.
Army sources said the problem encountered in Sikkim could have been related to the Tatra truck’s engine, which is designed for rugged battlefield use, compromising high-altitude performance in return for lower risks of breakdown.
CBI officials refused comment on the issues they had discussed with Mr. Rishi, but the businessman has been barred from leaving India until further notice.
He was earlier questioned by the agency officials last week, soon after the CBI registered an FIR in the case. CBI officials were also poring over and analysing a number of documents seized during raids in Delhi, Noida and Bangalore.
Apart from Mr. Rishi, the FIR refers to unknown officials of BEML, Vectra and the Army. The case was registered under provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to criminal conspiracy to cheat and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The investigators are tasked with looking into all purchases of Tatra trucks made from 1997, when Vectra took control of Tatra. Since 1986, the Army has purchased some 7,000 Tatra trucks to transport troops and artillery.
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