 Online edition of India's National Newspaper Monday, Jun 29, 2009 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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National
NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry could consider the option of acquiring 155mm light howitzers from an alternative supplier following its decision to “put on hold” acquisitions from Singapore Technologies among other firms. The company was the only vendor left to supply the howitzers after the other seller pulled out from the bidding. Top sources in the Ministry said a decision would be taken in due course even as a consignment of the howitzer guns (Pegasus SLWH) from Singapore Technologies, arrived in India recently for field trials. However, the Ministry appears in no mood to relent from blacklisting, for the time being at least, seven firms whose names figured in the CBI probe into the corruption allegations against former Ordnance Factory Board chief, Sudipto Ghosh. The sources said attempts were made by representatives of both the Singapore company and the Israeli Military Industries to meet Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, but they were not granted audience. However, having received communication from these two firms following the ban, the Ministry approached the CBI seeking information on the allegations of transfer of money by them to personal accounts. It is understood that some evidence pointing to transfers of money was detected even though in one case it was not directly linked to the plan to procure the ultra-light howitzers, the sources said. With the Defence Minister having declared a ‘zero-tolerance’ to corruption policy, sources said it was time to send a strong message that any reports of misdeeds would not be acceptable. Aware that such an action could lead to delay in procuring equipment, the Ministry might explore the option of getting these guns under the foreign military sales route.
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