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ACB,CBI, Chandigarh – Jai Ho

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To                                                                                                              24 May 2021

The Director, CBI

Plot No 5-B CGO Complex,

Pragati Vihar,

New Delhi –110003

Subject: Request to deployed more staff in ACB, Chandigarh

Sir,

  1. I have sent a complaint to the ACB, CBI, Chandigarh on 16 October 2020 based on a detailed departmental investigation report corruption in the procurement of some equipments by Snow Avalanche Study Establishment. DRDO. Him Parisar, Plot No.1, Sector 37A, Chandigarh – 160 036  (SASE). The equipments were purchased at an inflated cost of shockingly to the tune of 50 times of the original cost.  As per the documents it is evident that there is Malafied act of corruption but DRDO seems to be indifferent to act on it.  These equipments used in Avalanche forecasting studies which are of very strategic importance. If such level of corruption is happening, it is directly affecting strategic interests of the nation. Because of these corrupt scientists more than 90% equipments are not working and that will be a sabotage of life risk of our great soldiers.  
  2. Now I have received the letter from Vigilance DRDO for confirming the complaint after passing 6 months. The DRDO letter enclosed the ACB letter mentioned that “this office has not conducted any open enquiry in to the matter”
  3. To my utter disappointment, instead of conducting an independent enquiry into the allegations based on complaint with all supporting documents, the Chandigarh unit of CBI simply forwarded the information to Director Vigilance of DRDO (Not even to CVO of MoD). Effectively it is simply passing on the buck to the organization which is not interested to tackle corruption in its organization, because the department enquiry document itself shows that after enquiry till date no action have been taken on this matter and buried under the table.
  4. The corruption they are doing in such system which directly deploy in various snowbound border areas and collect the data and on the basis of these data they pass information to defence forces which conduct the patrolling in these snowbound areas. Because of these corrupt scientists more than 90% are not working and that will be a sabotage of life risk of our great soldiers.
  5. I am fighting ageist corruption since last 20 years and lot of CBI officers, IB, Officers met me during this period across the India and most of I have found that they are working hard to get input/lead of corruption and national security and surprisingly in this case I found that ACB, Chandigarh not having any interest first he sit with information for six months and now just passing the ball to same department who are helpless to act against corrupt scientists for unforeseen reasons.
  6. So I personally feel that the ACB, Chandigarh having lot of investigations and is not able to give time for this act of corruption and sabotage of national security case.  I urge the Director, CBI to conduct an independent investigation by the responsible official for the corruption in strategic work of DRDO organization and ensure exemplary punishment to the accused through court if law..
  7. To save the life of our defence personal and stop the siphoning of poor tax payer money your early action is required.

Regards

Prabhu Dandriyal

21-0 sunderwala, Raipur

DEHRADUN-248008

9411114879, prabhudoon@gmail.com , www.corruptionindrdo.com

Enclosed: 

1.   Copy my letter to ACB.CB, Chandigarh along with copy of DRDO enquiry report.

2.   Copy of ACB.CBI, Chandigarh letter address to Vigilance, DRDO Hrs

3.   Copy of Vigilance, DRDO Hrs letter

Copy to

  1. Prime Minister of India – At the moment, the entire nation is battling with Corona and lot of funds is required to save the precious lives. Every hard earned penny of tax payer is needed to strengthen health care system.  Siphoning of national exchequer should be treated as serious crime in the need of hour.
  • Defence Minister – I am bringing to your notice a corruption of high level where key defence scientists are involved that may risk life of soldiers who are patrolling in snowbound border areas. Action  requested in your end
  • Chairman, DRDO – for information please, because action …………
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.

Drdo

‘Internal politics’ forces DRDO scientist to quit

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By Pradip R Sagar | Published: 08th October 2017
NEW DELHI: With a dream to work for his country after spending a successful stint overseas, Dr Gausal Ahmed Khan applied for the post of senior scientist in the country’s premier defence research institute—DRDO—in 2009. Eight years down the line, Khan’s dreams were shattered when he was forced to resign in September owing to ‘internal politics’.
Khan, a physiologist, worked on a project to reduce the acclimatisation time of Indian Army personnel stationed at high altitude locations like Siachen. He has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi exposing nepotism, politics, and corruption prevailing in the DRDO. “Unfortunately my scientific temperament and hard work proved to be a disqualification in one of the country’s most reputed organisations—DRDO,” Khan wrote to the PM.

Dr Gausal Khan

“Bereaved, my broken and humiliated conscience prompted me to write to you and apprise you of the prevalent politics, corruption, and other work conditions in DRDO. I am writing with a hope that in future work condition in DRDO may improve and will prevent scientists from leaving the organisation,” he added.

While disclosing how he was involved in litigation after not given credit for his work, he said, “I spent the last three years in the organisation defending myself in unwanted litigations imposed on me by higher officials due to their politics, personal vengeance, and family lineage.”

Khan got some relief when he approached the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) against a disciplinary case imposed on him. The Tribunal in its order stated: “He has been conferred with ‘developing world scientist award’ at international level for his research of unique nature.

Assuming that there are some lapses on the applicant (scientist), the disciplinary authority should have taken a lenient view on account of the excellent scientific research by him which brought laurels not only individually for him but to the country as whole. However, the respondent (DRDO authorities) has not given due credit for his research in the scientific field. This depicts sorry state of affairs. Instead of appreciating his research work, he has been treated shabbily and awarded punishment in gross violation of law”.

When contacted Khan, who is leaving for the US, said, “I came with a vision and a dream. My working conditions forced me to leave. But before leaving, I wanted to apprise the top leaders of the poor work atmosphere. PM talks about self-reliance in defence, but we cannot achieve it unless we weed out corruption and internal politics.”

Drdo

PMO snubs DRDO over Peikarumbu expo launch

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By Pradip R Sagar | Express News Service | Published: 27th July 2017 08:57 AM |
Last Updated: 27th July 2017 08:57 AM
NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has snubbed the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), when it requested Narendra Modi to inaugurate an exhibition planned at Peikarumbu, near the memorial of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam that would be opened on Thursday.

With most of the DRDO projects, ranging from Tejas light combat aircraft to long range surface-to-air missile systems, repeatedly missing deadlines and facing huge cost overruns, Modi’s outright rejection to inaugurate an exhibition at the venue of the memorial of a former DRDO is seen as his attempt to distance from the white elephant (DRDO), which often faced criticism. In fact, during his first interaction with DRDO scientists, Modi had sent a stern message to the agency for their ‘Chalta hai’ (lackadaisical) attitude.

The DRDO had planned an exhibition of its products with the theme ‘Science for Soldier and Society’ alongside the PM’s event, adjacent to Kalam’s memorial. Top scientists from its nearly 30 laboratories were engaged for this by the DRDO’s headquarters and its Bengaluru-based lab Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL) was made event coordinator.

But much to their chagrin, the PMO not only turned down the request to ope the exhibition, but also denied permission to hold mega event close to the memorial. “Special Protection Group, the agency responsible for PM’s security, has refused permission for the exhibition adjacent to the venue,” said a top official.
Left with no options, the DRDO has moved the exhibition to Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, one of its labs functioning at Avadi in Chennai. DRDO chief S Christopher will inaugurate it on Friday.

When contacted, DRDO spokesperson Manish Bhardwaj refused to divulge the details. “Shifting of the venue happened due to space constraints,” Bhardwaj said.
According to a statement issued by the PMO on Wednesday, Modi will inaugurate Kalam’s memorial on Thursday morning and later flag off ‘Kalam Sandesh Vahini’, an exhibition bus which would travel across various states to reach Rashtrapati Bhavan on October 15, the birth anniversary of the Kalam.

The PMO also stated that Prime Minister will then proceed to Mandapam for the public meeting, where he will distribute sanction letters to the beneficiaries of longliner trawlers under the Blue Revolution Scheme. He will also flag off a new Express train from Ayodhya to Rameswaram via videoconferencing. Modi will release a synopsis of the Green Rameswaram Project and will unveil a plaque to mark the dedication to the nation of the 9.5 km Link Road on NH 87, which runs between Mukundarayar Chathiram and Arichalmunai. Modi will conclude his visit by addressing a public meeting.

Drdo

DRDO goes young with Modi

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By Pradip R Sagar
Published: 02 Oct 2016 The Sunday Standard

Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: In order to weed out the dead woods, country’s premier defence research agency Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is often faced criticism for its tardy performance, is looking for young scientist to head one of its laboratory. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advise to DRDO to hire young scientists, not over the age of 35 years to head at least five laboratories of defence research agency.

Following PM’s advise, Uttarakhand based Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER), which is engaged in research in the first of bio energy and non conventional energy for defence use, has invited applications from candidates before the age of 35 years to head the lab. Officials claim this is the first step in the chain of events to give important role to young scientists, as Modi government has already banned giving extensions to scientists who have completed their tenure. It is notable that till two years back, DRDO’s top 15 scientists were on extension of service.
drdo-logoPM Modi in his first interaction with DRDO scientists had sent a stern message to defence research agency for their ‘chalta hai’ attitude, as most of DRDO projects, ranging from Tejas light combat aircraft to long-range surface-to-air missile systems have been missing repeated deadlines with huge cost overruns.
But sources in the agency said, appointing youch scientists to head laboratories may not go down well with senior scientists working with defence research.

But, officials said that hiring of Director of lab below the age of 35 years will send message to everyone working in DRDO to deliver. Modi has last year short listed Satish Reddy, the youngest ever scientific advisor to the defence minsitry.

“Certainly it’s an effort to get rid of non-performing scientists. Merely age seniority will not matter. If India wants to be a superpower, our defence research has to be cutting edge. India remains to be top buyer of military hardware globally with nearly 70 per cent defence requirements meet by imports,” said an officer. It is the successful government’s failure to build a strong domestic defence industrial base due to sluggish performance of 52 DRDO laboratories, five defence PSUs , four shipyards and 39 Ordnance factories.diber-director

Drdo

DRDO sets timeline for fixing grievances to discourage direct complaint to PM Modi

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By Pradip R. Sagar 14 September 2016 The New Indian Express
modi_afp-14-sept-16

NEW DELHI: As scientists involved in defence research continue to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with their grievances, DRDO headquarters has asked all its department heads to take timely action on these complaints to avoid direct communication with PM or Defence minister.

Following series of complaints, the DRDO’s vigilance department has now fixed a deadline to complete probe into any grievance within in ten days of receipt of complaint.

Days after assuming office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked government officials to give their suggestions directly to his office. But, within months, the PMO’s desk handling grievances was flooded with hundreds of representations. To address complaints, Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, in August 2015 issued an instruction that writing directly to the PMO by violating the prescribed channel of communication has to be viewed ‘seriously’ and is liable for ‘disciplinary action’.

But, despite strict instructions from the Cabinet Secretariat, several scientists have been continuously approaching prime minister’s office and defence minister.

“In absence of appropriate action to be taken on such complaints, the complainant addresses his grievances to various authorities including the Raksha Mantri (defence minister) and Prime Minister’s Office,” according to an stinker from the vigilance department head of the DRDO, Dr. JP Singh, Director, Vigilance and security writes..

“It has been noted with concern that neither any timely action is taken by the head of Clusters or establishment on complaints which are addressed to them, nor any action taken report is forwarded by them headquarters,”

Vigilance department believe that because of in-action by concerned Clusters or Establishments in the DRDO, ‘copious correspondence among various government agencies take place as all the complaints were processed as per extant of guidelines of the DoPT.

“All heads of Clusters/ Laboratories/ Establishments and Units are requested to take timely action on complaint directly addressed to them and forward Action Taken Report to the Chief Comptroller with ten days of the receipt of complaint,” Dr. JP Singh, Director, Vigilance and security writes.

Citing a Cabinet Secretary note on official communication channel, the DRDO headquarters in August last year, had issued detailed instructions to all its laboratories for strict compliance regarding representations being sent directly to higher authorities bypassing the prescribed channel of communication.14-sept-16-the-new-indian-express

Drdo

DRDO’s cause for Agni test delay under cloud

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By Hemant Kumar Rout Published: 04th July 2016
BHUBANESWAR:The clarification of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on the inordinate delay in test firing of India’s most potent and longest range nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-V has put a question mark on the competency of the premier arms research and development agency.

DRDO Chief Selvin Christopher has been quoted by a news agency that Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-V has been stuck due to a technical snag with its battery and not because of any other considerations. Christopher, however, did not respond to confirm the report. Other senior scientists involved in the Agni-V programme also refused to comment.
The fourth test of the home-grown missile, already tested successfully thrice, has been postponed twice. The test holds significance as it would pave way for the missile’s early induction in the armed forces.
On May 8, The Express had run a story titled ‘PM’s US visit trips Agni-V launch plans’ citing that the test was postponed due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit. Dismissing it, the DRDO Chief was quoted saying there is a problem with the battery and the issue can be resolved. This has, however, raised eyebrows as it appears that the organisation has failed to rectify the fault for the last several months.

Battery is required for on-board electronics which need power. Defence experts said the glitch could not be that big which will take so much time to be rectified.

As it pertains to the defence armaments of the nation, can the DRDO devote so much time for rectifying the glitch?

An eminent national security expert and professor at New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research (CPR) Bharat Karnad termed it a lame excuse by the DG of DRDO.

“The Agni-V test was originally slated during Autumn of 2015. Is it Christopher’s contention that the supposed battery ‘snag’ is so grievous in nature that ASL, Hyderabad has been unable to fix it for the last nine months?” he wondered.

Actually, Karnad observed that the clarification of the DRDO chief confirms the suspicion that Agni-V testing has been stalled for political reasons to avoid friction with the US.
Indian Express 4 July 2016

PMO

Not a Penny from Army in PM’s Flood Relief Fund Yet as General Idea to Dock Pay Backfires

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By Pradip R Sagar Published: 15th May 2015 06:00 AM The New Indian Express
Indain ExpressNEW DELHI: Drawing flak for its decision to cut a day’s salary of all its staff for donations to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, the Army headquarters is now in the process of collecting consent letters for the same from each of its personnel.

Express was the first to report on January 18, 2015 that several of the officers were upset with the decision of Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag in ordering a day’s pay cut to contribute Rs 100 crore to the PM’s Relief Fund to help the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Subsequently, some of the officers even wrote to the Controller of Defence Accounts (CDA), not giving approval for any deduction from their salaries. Realizing the discontent among its officers, the Army headquarters approached the office of the Controller of Defence Accounts, which eventually advised them that a consent letter was required from every Army person for deduction of salary.

“It has been intimated by the agency concerned that no amount on account of contributions from salary of any Army personnel has yet been donated to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. The matter is under consideration,” Army Central Public Information Officer Lt Col Rajiv Guleria said in reply to an RTI query filed by activist Prabhu Dandriyal, based on the Express report.

“We are in the process of collecting consent letters from everyone. It is purely on a voluntary basis and the amount will be deposited in the PM Relief Fund soon,” said a senior officer of South Block. Interestingly, the photos of the 67th Army Day event posted on the website of the PMO show Army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag presenting a cheque titled ‘one day’s pay of all ranks of Indian Army’, to Narendra Modi, in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

PMO

Army’s contribution of Rs 100 crore yet to reach PM’s relief fund

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By TNN | 15 May, 2015, 11.21AM IST – the Economic Times

NEW DELHI: During the Army Day reception on January 15, General Dalbir Singh Suhag had presented a cheque of over Rs 100 crore to Narendra Modi for the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund with much fanfare. It was announced the amount had been raised by officers and soldiers of the 1.18-million strong Army by donating a day’s salary each to help the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Four months later, no such money has reached the intended fund. Responding to an RTI query filed by Dehradun-based activist Prabhu Dandriyal, the Army headquarters has said: “It has been intimated by concerned agency that no such amount on account of contributions from salary of any Army personnel has yet been donated to the PM’s Relief Fund. The matter is under consideration.”

On being asked about this embarrassing turn of events, the Army on Thursday said the process to collect the money on “a volunteer basis” was still underway. But Dandriyal smells a rat since many officers had earlier protested against Gen Suhag’s order for a day’s pay-cut without prior consent.

“The norm in the government is that all such contributions are made voluntarily. The Army chief’s order made it compulsory. How was the cheque presented to the PM on January 15 when no contribution had been taken from the salaries? My information is that the Army has sought time till July 10 now,” said Dandriyal.

The activist, in fact, has also filed an RTI in the PMO seeking to know what happened to the Rs 100 crore cheque donated to the PM’s Relief Fund. “The PMO website has photographs showing the cheque titled `One day’s pay of all ranks of the Indian Army’ being presented to the PM by General Suhag on January 15,” he said.

Drdo

50% of Rafale deal value will be invested in India: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar

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By MEERA MOHANTY & Manu Pubby, ET Bureau | 11 May, 2015, 07.04AM IST

NEW DELHI: Terrorists, irrespective of wherever they may be operating from, should be neutralised using all types of methods, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told ET in an exclusive interview. He elaborated that “neutralisation” doesn’t necessarily mean killing terrorists but making them “ineffective.”

Parrikar also criticised ex-BJP minister Arun Shourie, saying the latter “does not have the full brief on what is happening”. Shourie had recently said the Narendra Modi government was faltering on policymaking and delivery.

Responding to a question on how India should deal with terrorists in foreign territory, the defence minister said: “A terrorist has to be neutralised-…Certain issues cannot be discussed but I feel that for any enemy of the country, all types of methods should be used to neutralise them.”

“Neutralising does not mean just killing…it means any method that makes them non-functional – get him to jail or to make him ineffective in any manner,” Parrikar added.

In his wide-ranging interaction with ET covering several key policy areas, Parrikar also set out the exact figure on India’s manufacturing share of the Rafale fighter jet project – France will need to spend 50% of the contract value, almost four billion dollars, as investments in the Indian defence and aerospace sector. The minister said the Rafale jet project will “unleash Make-in- India”.

Parrikar also said that with India buying around 36 Rafale jets for now, government savings on this project is likely to be up Rs 60,000-65,000 crore. This money, Parrikar said, will be used to accelerate defence manufacturing in India, including speeding up the long-ingestation Light Combat Aircraft. The minister said LCA will be inducted in large numbers, up to 200 fighters or 10 squadrons.
Parrikar linked low levels infiltration from Pakistan and fewer incidents of cross-border firing this year to Indian forces’ strong retaliation to “misadventures”.

Acknowledging that defence forces face an issue on resources, the minister said all three wings, army, air force and navy, must prioritise spending. All three wings have been asked to make a list of must-have items, Parrikar said. He said Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) would have a new head by May 24.

DRDO will also have a separate Scientific Advisor, who will be attached to the ministry for independent advice. Parrikar said for important projects he will form consortiums of all stakeholders from the government system, it won’t be just DRDO taking all the critical decisions.​If the army has to operate in the Jammu & Kashmir, it needs AFSPA: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar