New Delhi, March 2
A new potential scam has emerged with Defence Minister A K Antony ordering a CBI probe into allegations of bribery into a Rs 10,000-crore deal for supply of aircraft engines to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) by London-based Rolls Royce company.

The deal relates to supply of engines for Hawk trainer and Jaguar fighter aircraft between 2007 and 2011. An internal probe by the vigilance wing of HAL has prima facie established the charges, Defence Ministry sources revealed.

When contacted for a reaction to the allegation, Rolls Royce said in an email response that the company would be able to do so only tomorrow as today is a holiday.

The allegations surfaced in a letter received by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) recently claiming that bribes were paid to officials in HAL and other departments concerned to bag contracts, the sources said.

HAL immediately initiated an inquiry into the charges through its Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO).

The investigations by CVO have prima facie found that the company allegedly violated several contractual obligations with HAL, the sources said. After the case with the findings and recommendations of the CVO was brought to the notice of Defence Minister, Antony ordered that the case be handed over to CBI for further investigations, the sources said.

After the development, IAF’s several programmes are expected to get delayed but the Defence Ministry is firm that it would not allow any corruption to take place in its procurement process and would take strict action even if it means delays in some of the projects.

Antony has been prompt in ordering inquiries into defence deals even if the complaints are received from anonymous sources to eradicate corruption in military purchases. — PTI