Defence Ministry probing irregularity charges in Rs 3,000 cr howitzer deal

[Marxist]

New Delhi, Jul 28:

The Defence Ministry is probing allegations of irregularity involving a top retired Army official in the Rs 3,000 crore deal to procure 145 ultra-light howitzers from the US under an inter-governmental agreement.

The M-777 howitzers are being procured by the Army through the Foreign Military Sales route for deployment in the mountainous boundaries with China and Pakistan and are expected to be part of a new Strike Corps to be raised along the China border.

The deal is at an advanced stage and India and the US authorities are negotiating the offsets and other aspects of the contract.

While the negotiations are underway, the defence ministry received an anonymous letter alleging irregularity on part of a top Army officer who has since retired.

Taking cognizance of this complaint, the Defence Ministry is probing the allegations through in internal inquiry, sources told PTI here.

The Ministry is also likely to seek comments of the Army headquarters on this issue, they said.

The proposed deal has been mired in one controversy or the other since its early days.

The Rs 3,000 crore deal was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in October last year.

Prior to its approval, the Defence Ministry had sought the report of a committee on whether to go ahead with the procurement after the leakage of the trial reports of the M-777 howitzer.

The leaked report had suggested that the guns had underperformed during the trials and the Army was not happy with it.

The Ministry had then formed a Committee under then DRDO Chief V K Saraswat to submit a report whether the procurement should be realised or not.

The deal was given a go ahead only after Saraswat gave it clearance.

The Ultra-Light Howitzers of 155 mm 39 calibre are being acquired for deployment in high altitude areas in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh.

The M-777 guns, serving in the US Army, can be airlifted easily and be used for quick deployment of assets in mountainous regions.

After the Bofors controversy in 1986, no new gun has been procured by the Army for its artillery.

The Army is also hoping to induct the Bofors guns manufactured indigenously by the Ordnance Factory Board at its facilities in Jabalpur.

Defence Ministry probing irregularity charges in Rs 3,000 cr howitzer deal | Business Line

 

[Echo_419]

Just sign the damn deal Antony you faggot

 

[GR!FF!N]

how can there be corruption in govt to govt deal????there is anti corruption mechanism placed by USA govt as this program is under USA govt's tight control..

 

[tranquilium]

how can there be corruption in govt to govt deal????there is anti corruption mechanism placed by USA govt as this program is under USA govt's tight control..

Erm, this is an international arms deal, kick back and corruption is practically the name of the game.

 

[Abingdonboy]

This makes no sense- the deal is being conducted through FMS where strict anti-graft measures exist.


This stinks of a losing party taking things into their own hands in the hope the deal gets cancelled.


This seems to have become the norm in too many deals- losing parties make unfounded allegations and entire procurements are stalled indefinitely because the great "Saint" is too busy covering his own backside and not doing his job.


I'm pretty confident this deal will be signed later this fiscal though.

 

[GR!FF!N]

Erm, this is an international arms deal, kick back and corruption is practically the name of the game.

actually,not in FMS program,which is govt to govt sales..

 

[JanjaWeed]

Gayi bhains paani mein... another defence scam, another delay!

 

[SirHatesALot]

This makes no sense- the deal is being conducted through FMS where strict anti-graft measures exist.


This stinks of a losing party taking things into their own hands in the hope the deal gets cancelled.


This seems to have become the norm in too many deals- losing parties make unfounded allegations and entire procurements are stalled indefinitely because the great "Saint" is too busy covering his own backside and not doing his job.


I'm pretty confident this deal will be signed later this fiscal though.

What happens when this letter is leaked to the press after the deal is signed?
I don't blame Antony in this our political parties will use this letter and blame him for negligence or corruption.

 

[Pulsar]

So the whole MoD gets into overdrive just because some coot with an axe to grind wrote an anonymous letter implicating a general?? No wonder we are called a 'banana republic'!!

For God's sake the contract does not involve middlemen. The M-777 howitzers are being procured through the Foreign Military Sales route.

The U.S. Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program facilitates sales of U.S. arms, defense equipment, defense services, and military training to foreign governments. The purchaser does not deal directly with the defense contractor; instead, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency serves as an intermediary, usually handling procurement, logistics and delivery and often providing product support, training, and infrastructure construction.

So where is the question of 'irregularities', meaning slush money changing hands? This is utter nonsense. As per the norm, NO action is to be taken on anonymous letters. So WTF is going on?

 

[Abingdonboy]

So WTF is going on?

"Saint" Antony protecting his image is what is going on.

What happens when this letter is leaked to the press after the deal is signed?
I don't blame Antony in this our political parties will use this letter and blame him for negligence or corruption.

I get that but the IA's wait for new arty goes on..........

 

[SirHatesALot]

"Saint" Antony protecting his image is what is going on.



I get that but the IA's wait for new arty goes on..........

Still you cant blame the guy for playing safe,put yourself in his shoes.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Still you cant blame the guy for playing safe,put yourself in his shoes.

I wish I could. This man is a politician like the rest- not interested in serving his office, his nation or the military- only interested in serving himself. Want to find the most most morally corrupt people in any nation- look to their politicians.

 

[SirHatesALot]

I wish I could. This man is a politician like the rest- not interested in serving his office, his nation or the military- only interested in serving himself. Want to find the most most morally corrupt people in any nation- look to their politicians.

What happens when you get labelled as CORRUPT.
He will be called traitor for giving our soldiers substandard guns.
If you want to blame anyone then blame our media and those who sit in opposition (INC/BJP).
His integrity will be questioned.

 

[Abingdonboy]

What happens when you get labelled as CORRUPT.
He will be called traitor for giving our soldiers substandard guns.
If you want to blame anyone then blame our media and those who sit in opposition (INC/BJP).
His integrity will be questioned.

Oh the media and opposition are just as bad- if not worse. The media creates things out of nothing and then the opposition jumps on these false reports and derails EVERYTHING. Immaturity, incompetency, stupidity- you name it, they are that.



So many cases where these idiots have derailed and delayed these contracts- this is as anti-Indian as it gets.


Look at the AW-101 deal, the MMRCA deal, the LUH deal etc etc etc

 

[Kloitra]

Just sign the damn deal Antony you faggot

how can there be corruption in govt to govt deal????there is anti corruption mechanism placed by USA govt as this program is under USA govt's tight control..

And if the deal was signed without investigation, everyone would have cried 'corrupt congressies'.

Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Meanwhile, the negotiations are in progress