How ‘parachute scam that wasn’t’ hit deal for secret unit

Yesterday,the cabinet secretariat pulled out the inquiry report prepared by R&AW last year,and the CBI decided there was no case for a fresh investigation.

Top government officials said that following the complaint,fresh tendering for the parachutes was put on hold; the process is expected to commence shortly. Thus,there has already been a two-year delay in the SFF getting its consignment of 200-odd parachutes,to be used for the first time by the secret unit.

Sources,however,clarified that there is no shortage of parachutes with the SFF,which are being used routinely for other aircraft.

It transpires that after a restricted tendering process that began in 2010,the cabinet secretariat invited bids from three OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) for the parachutes. Two bids were received from Ukrainian firms; one from a Spanish company. The cost of each parachute was about Rs 5 lakh,and the expected total value of the order,Rs 10 crore.

A technical committee was set up by the cabinet secretariat for the purchase. Representing the SFF on the panel was Col. Arvind Sharma,a paratrooper on deputation to the guerrilla unit.

At the post-trial stage,members of the committee noted and recorded in their report that samples of two of the companies appeared to be identical,with the same packaging and consecutive serial numbering. This gave rise to suspicion that the parachutes could be from the same OEM but were being sold separately by two bidders.

The cabinet secretariat then decided to go in for a fresh tender for the purchase. Shortly afterward arrived the letter from the Trinamool MP,alleging corruption and kickbacks in the parachute deal.

Now,the Army Chief has alleged that the annual confidential report (ACR) of Col. Sharma was downgraded by Lt Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag,then the director general of the SFF and Col. Sharma’s boss,because he had dared to record the discrepancies in the parachutes up for sale.

Officials in the cabinet secretariat,however,said they were unaware of any controversy over the officer’s ACR,or any other fallout of the aborted purchase. Last year,a detailed inquiry report on the subject was submitted to the cabinet secretariat and finally,fresh bids are being invited for the purchase.