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Journalism of Courage
With its 155-mm lightweight howitzer lined up at the Armys testing range at Pokhran,the top brass of defence contractor Singapore Technologies,president and CEO Tan Phey Hock and Vice President Patrick Choy,are here in an attempt to explain to the UPA government that their company has nothing to do with either middlemen or those named in the bribery scandal allegedly involving former Ordinance Factory Board chief Sudipta Ghosh.
The company has also written a letter to the Defence Ministry and is said to have claimed that it wasnt involved with Ghosh and middlemen,including Ramesh Nambiar,who figure in the CBI investigation.
Singapore Technologies and six companies are not mentioned in the FIR against Ghosh but the Defence Ministry has said these firms are under the scanner based on evidence and has put all procurement processes (with these firms) on hold.
Sources said even the Israeli defence contractors have been informed that India will not hesitate to initiate action against them if they were found to be using middlemen.
The MoD has written to the CBI asking for further details on liabilities of these companies. Even though there is a view in South Block that STs howitzer be tested as this is just a preliminary step in the procurement process,it is understood that this decision has been left to Defence Minister A K Antony.
