This story is from October 22, 2016

CBI registers case against unknown officials of DRDO

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against unknown officials of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO and others relating to procurement of three modified EMB-145 Aircraft.
CBI registers case against unknown officials of DRDO
(Representative image)
PUNE : The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against unknown officials of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO and others relating to procurement of three modified EMB-145 Aircraft.
The other include a private firm based in Brazil and its unknown officials, a private person, another private firm in Singapore and others.
The case was registered under section 120 (b) of the Indian Penal Code read with sections 7, 8, 9, 12, 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
Earlier, a preliminary enquiry was registered on September 16, 2016 on a reference received from the DRDO to enquire into the allegations regarding employment of an agent for facilitating the contract for AEW and C Project with CABS/DRDO for procurement of three fully modified EMB-145 Aircraft.

During enquiry, it was found that Brazil based firm had engaged a middleman (a non-resident Indian) based in United Kingdom. It was further alleged that as a result of mediation by said middleman, the officials of DRDO/Ministry of Defence, moved a proposal for purchase of three EMB-145 Aircraft from Brazil based firm on a single vendor basis and the said firm secured the contract for supplying three EMB-145 Aircraft from DRDO.

A purchase agreement was allegedly signed between Brazil based firm and DRDO on Jul3 3, 2008 for supply of three modified Embraer Aircraft EMB-145 for a consideration of US $ 210 million (approx).
It was also alleged that in lieu of facilitating the agreement/ deal between Brazil based firm and DRDO, the firm paid an amount of US $ 5.76 million (approx) to the said middleman through Singapore based company in 2009.
The said amount was used by private person to influence the officials of DRDO for the contract to supply three EMB-145 Aircraft by Brazil based firm.
Searches were conducted on October 20 at certain premises of the said middleman and others in Delhi which led to recovery of incriminating documents.
Further investigation is continuing.
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About the Author
Asseem Shaikh

Asseem Shaikh is a special correspondent at The Times of India, Pune. He holds a PG degree in Journalism and Communication and Human Rights, and has been a journalist for about 20 years now. He covers the crime and legal beats with special focus on ‘syndicated’ crime, cyber crime, terrorism, custodial deaths, fake encounters and human rights violations. Has made good use of the Right to Information Act for journalistic purposes. He loves to travel.

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