Blow to IAF projects: CBI to probe aero engine scam

by Rahul Singh

A bribery scandal involving aero engines threatens to cast a shadow over several key air force programmes.

The defence ministry has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe bribery allegations against British engineering company Rolls-Royce in connection with contracts to supply aircraft engines to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The agency will investigate all contracts the firm signed with HAL during 2007-11, an official said.

The development could have serious implications for the military’s Hawk advanced jet trainer (AJT) programme, as the contracts relate to supplying Adour Mk871 engines for AJTs being built under-licence by HAL.

If charges are proved and the firm is eventually blacklisted, there could be implications for other projects too. Rolls-Royce engines also power the IAF’s C 130J Super Hercules special operations aircraft, Jaguar strike fighters and Embraer luxury jets for VVIPs. Roll-Royce could not be reached for comments.

India has inked separate contracts worth more than Rs. 15,000 crore with aerospace major BAE Systems for 123 AJTs. The air force plans to induct 106 AJTs (60-plus already in service), while the remaining are to be assigned to the navy. Only 24 AJTs were supplied by BAE Systems in ‘flyaway condition.’

The Hawks have simplified pilot training by serving as a bridge between subsonic trainers and supersonic fighters such as Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage 2000 and Jaguar that combat pilots finally fly.

Defence minister AK Antony has ordered the CBI probe weeks after arms dealer Sudhir Choudhrie and his son Bhanu were arrested in the UK for their alleged involvement in a kickback scandal involving Rolls-Royce. The Serious Fraud Office of the UK is currently probing allegations that the firm paid bribes to bag deals in China and Indonesia.

The investigation comes as a major blow to Rolls-Royce as it has a huge presence in India across defence aerospace, civil aerospace, energy and marine sectors. It has more than 1,350 engines in service in the country, including RB211 engines that power major gas pipelines with Gas Authority of India Limited.

Antony ordered the CBI probe after an HAL investigation found the bribery charges weren’t unsubstantiated.

via Hindustan Times

Read More

CBI raids army recruitment exam, finds irregularities

Soumittra S. Bose. 

NAGPUR: The anti-corruption wing of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted surprise checks at two places on Sunday during the nationwide army recruitment drive, over suspicion of malpractices by some candidates, including leaking of some questions.

The CBI personnel manually checked around 1,400 candidates appearing for the written examination for mobile phones at the exam venue, Institute of Science. The CBI had received information that answers were being sent by SMS to some candidates before the examination, which had been delayed for around three hours for reasons best known to army officials.

Sources claimed that the answers were messaged to several candidates in the morning since the examination was scheduled at 10am. The examination actually started at around 1pm.

An offence was registered by CBI Nagpur after the question paper leak at the final examination of the recruitment drive at various centres across the country came to fore. This leak has brought several army officials concerned with recruitment under the CBI scanner.

CBI initiated the action after getting information about a Katol-based private grooming centre for army recruitment. The institute named 'Tango Charlie' allegedly was in nexus with some insiders in the army recruitment cell. It had lured several aspiring candidates to cough up around Rs1.5 lakh with the promise of getting them selected in the army. A civilian, identified as Roshan Tidke, has been booked along with the owner of Tango Charlie, Jaikumar Belkhode.

During the raids conducted by teams of PI Pradeep Lande and Hanumant Jangid, under supervision of CBI SP Sandeep Tamgadge, at the written examination centre, six candidates were found possessing mobile phones with SMSes from racketeers mentioning answers to some multiple choice questions.

Around 1,400 candidates, who had qualified for the written examinations, were vying for recruitment as soldiers in clerical, technical and general duty.

Wing Commander Samir Gangakhedkar, defence public relation officer, said that the Army recruitment office is extending full cooperation to the CBI investigations.

Sources said that the private institute, whose premises were searched, had approached candidates who had cleared the physical test and other initial rounds. CBI officials said the private institute is unlikely to get the details of candidates who have qualified for the final exam without support of army officials.

CBI officials had also sent undercover personnel to the private institute a day earlier, where the management is learnt to have promised candidates special favours like leaking question papers or messaging answers prior to the written examination against payments. During searches, CBI recovered original documents of several candidates.

CBI SP Tamgadge said such rackets can undermine the system. "It is a grave offence that elements are actively trying to infiltrate the army recruitment. CBI collected adequate evidence before initiating the action," said Tamgadge. The CBI officer was also in touch with army officials when the raid was initiated.

This TOI correspondent had accompanied the CBI officials during the raids. It was found that candidates were made to sit either on the road or in the field under the afternoon sun to write the examination. Earlier, the candidates had to spend the night under the open sky as army personnel checked their documents for around five hours beginning at 5am before being allowed to enter the venue.

via Times of India

Read More