The CBI is investigating graft allegations against a senior scientist associated with the Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE Chennai) of the ministry of defence (MoD). The scientist under the scanner was part of a project on the production of India’s main battle tank, Arjun, sources said.
Sources in the agency said, “Initial investigations by the CBI have revealed that the scientist allegedly took a bribe from a private firm for giving a satisfactory report to a company which was developing assembly forged steel track links for the battle tank Arjun during an inspection in 2012.”
The suspected firm was given supply orders by the Defence Ordnance Factory for developing steel track links for the battle tank, they said. Arjun is a third-generation main battle tank developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army. It features a 120-mm main rifled gun, one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7 mm machine gun.
The agency recently registered a preliminary enquiry to probe the allegation against the scientist.
“The agency will soon seek clarifications from the scientist as well as the suspected firm. The agency will also seek clarifications from certain senior officials of the MoD,” sources said.
“If the CBI finds incriminating evidence during the inquiry, it would register a regular case into the matter. Without registering a regular case, the agency does not have the power to call anybody to the CBI headquarters for recording the statement. If the agency decides to convert the PE into a regular case, only then can the CBI send summons to the people. At this point of time, the CBI can only seek clarifications from them,” sources said.
The CBI is also preparing to take assistance of former MoD officials in this case. “Former MoD officials associated with the project may be quizzed to understand the issues related to the case. Besides, the CBI may take the assistance of ordnance factory officials,” sources said.
via The Asian Age
via The Asian Age
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