India's Exuberant Defence Spending and Seven Major Defence Scandals

By siliconindia | Wednesday, 13 February 2013, 11:21 Hrs

5 Denel Scandal
In South Africa allegations emerged that Denel which is a government-controlled firm had supplied anti-material rifle to the Indian Army and had to pay bribe to middlemen for the contract with India. The charges are yet to be filed.

6 Sudipto Ghosh Scandal
The CBI arrested Sudipto Ghosh,the just-retired chief of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and many of his associates for fixing contracts of OFB in 2009. Once the evidence were found by CBI of the bribery , in March 2012 the government blacklisted six companies for 10 years, which included, Israeli Military Industries, Russian firm Corporation Defence, Singapore Technologies, Germany's Rheinmetall Air Defence, Indian firms T S Kisan & Company and R K Machine Tool.

7 Abhishek Verma Scandal
Abhishek Verma, the son of former members of Parliament is currently in jail for military espionage. He and his wife were accused trading defence secrets and accepting bribes from defence firms, related to the Navy war room leaks.

A country’s defence system is meant to protect and safeguard the nation, but when it is tainted with corruption its efficiency takes a back seat. The need to maintain transparency in defence is as serious as protecting one’s nation. The country is planning to spend large sum of money on defence upgrade however, it is expected to be put to good use and not just for ostentation.