KICKBACK ON CHOPPER TRACK

               

Since early 1950s, the people have been hearing about the hush money, better known as kickback in purchases of mainly defence products from foreign countries. The foreign agencies know it better that the ministers and administrators in developing countries could be illegally gratified to procure huge sale orders of costly items like aeroplanes, transport vehicles, several machineries so on and so forth.

Previously, Defence was not suffering from such corrupt practices even though the defence forces make huge purchases of fighter/bomber planes, choppers, tanks, arms and ammunitions etc. Now, the contagious disease of corruption has caught this vital sector as well. Such dirty practices tell upon our national security as well besides the loss of public money. The weak-kneed policy of the Centre has paved the spread of this trend. The latest exposure in this regard is the doubtful chopper deal of 2010.

On Feb 8, 2010, the Indian Defence Ministry finalized a deal with the Anglo-Italian company named Agusta Westland International Ltd (AWIL) for purchasing 12 latest helicopters for VVIPs, at a cost of Rs 3,600 crore. Three of the consignment were delivered and three more are in the pipeline. India had already paid some amount. The condition, inter alia, was not to give any kickback to any individual to influence the deal. Despite that, only one year after that, it surfaced that AWIL gave 3,60 crore (10%) to the Indians associated with this deal. A.K. Antony, the MOD, known for his honesty, under pressure from the media and opposition political parties, had to declare that no defaulter would be pardoned and accordingly directed the CBI to conduct a quick inquiry.

The CBI, in its enquiry is reported to have confirmed the illegality. The then AIR chief SP Tyagi and his relatives have been found involved. The Govt without losing any time nullified the deal on Jan 1,2014. Moreover, it proposes to levy about 500 million Euros on the AWIL as a damage by breaching the Pre-contract Integrity Pact. The company has offered to get the matter arbitrated and the Govt has appointed Justice Jeevan Reddy as the arbitrator. The country expects that not only AWIL, all Indians who played a part in this anti-national activity should also  quickly be brought to book.