India's Exuberant Defence Spending and Seven Major Defence Scandals

By siliconindia | Wednesday, 13 February 2013, 11:20 Hrs

2 Bofors Scandal
The Bofors Scandal is the most notorious of all defence scandals that happened in India. The allegations started in late 1980s accusing Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and several others from the political arena being involved in receiving bribe from Bofors from Sweden for winning a bid to supply India’s field howitzer. The impact of corruption directly led to the defeat of Gandhi’s ruling Indian National Congress party in the 1989 general elections.

3 HDW Scandal
In 1987 allegations emerged that a commission was paid by the German defence firm for the purchase of submarines by India. The CBI started the investigation in which the former Navy chief and the 1971 war hero, Admiral S M Nanda was one among raided. Later due to the lack of evidence of the alleged payment of bribes, the investigation was closed by CBI.

4 Tehelka Defence Scandal
When two reporters disguised as representatives of a fake defence firm recorded many key political leaders, military officers and civil servants giving details of how bribes were paid in defence deals, it left many speechless in March 2001. The repercussions were such that the Defence minister George Fernandes had to resign after the Tehelka defence scandal broke out.