Amicus slams CBI probe into Kargil purchases

In his note to the SC,senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi says criminality is apparent on the face and it is surprising how CBI could conclude that there is no criminality involved.

In his findings placed on record today,the Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae is critical of the manner in which the CBI handled its investigation into the award of contracts for critical supplies,from shoes to radars,aggregating Rs 2,175 crore during the 1999 Kargil War.

In his note to the SC,senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi says criminality is apparent on the face and it is surprising how CBI could conclude that there is no criminality involved.

He highlights how the CBI chose to register only two cases purchase of aluminium caskets and Terminally Guided Ammunition Krasnipol and concluded that other contracts show no criminality.

Picking over a dozen contracts from a total 129 contracts entered into during the crucial months of war,Dwivedi points out how the CBI overruled criminality in each case even though excessive payments were agreed to be made,supplies came in much after the actual hostility was over and overseas companies won deals sidelining vendors who had offered the same products patently cheaper.

Entering into such contracts at higher prices in the name of Kargil War cannot but be with oblique motive, Dwivedi observes.

Some cases highlighted by the amicus:

Multi-purpose boots

35,075 pairs were purchased through a new firm Assolo Italia SPA,Italy. The company is not a shoe manufacturer and no information was available about its capacity. The boots turned out to be either size 6 or size 12 which were declared unfit for being an odd size.

Rifles

Contract for 100 anti-material rifles and 100,000 rounds of ammunition for Rs 23.22 crore went to Mechem Denel,South Africa. The rifles did not have carrying handles,open sight system and a compatible night sight. The rifles were delivered in batches much after the Kargil operation.

Tyres

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Contract concluded in December 1999 to import 3,250 KRAHOUL TYRES from UK-based M/s Tatura Sipox for Rs 3.37 crore,ignoring advice of Controller Quality Assurances Vehicles.