CBI interrogates Fernandes in Barak missile scandal

Vikash Ranjan

New Delhi

Tue, 20 May 2008: 

If Bofors Scandal was a major corruption scandal in 1980s during Rajiv Gandhi’s regime that involved many significant dignitaries for receiving kickbacks from Bofors AB; the “Barak missile case” related to purchase of $269 million Israeli's Anti-missile system 'Barak' in 2000 was a major setback toJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Former defence minister George Fernandes was interrogated by the CBI twice this month for his alleged involvement in the purchase of Barak missiles. But the secrets of talks have been kept tight lipped.

October 23, 2000 was the day, when the Indian government signed a contract to procure seven Barak systems at a total cost of $269 million of which $199.50 million spent on Barak systems and 200 missiles purchased at a cost of $69.13 million.

Barak is not the missile, but the name of a system, which is set on the naval ships. And, it is air to air and surface to surface missile.

About the Barak missile, the then DRDO head APJ Abdul Kalam said, “Our indigenous developed Trishul missile should be set on the naval ships rather than Barak missile. There is no reason to buy this imported Barak system.”

However, the deal was concluded despite raising objections by several groups including Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) headed by the then APJ Abdul Kalam, who later became the President of India.

The scandal came into light in 2001 after a sting operation conducted by Tehelka allegedly exposed 15 defence deals that were somehow associated with some sort of kickbacks and the Barak was one of them.

At the time of Barak system deal, the defence minister was George Fernandes, who belongs to the Samata Party. Apart from Fernandes, Samata Party ex-treasurer R K Jain was also named in the scandal. While Nanda was arrested, some big names were registered in FIR include George Fernandes and Jaya Jaitley from Samata Party and arms dealer and ex-naval officer Suresh Nanda, the son of retired naval chief S M Nanda.

Investigation by NDA regime

Under mounting opposition's pressure, the NDA government constituted a commission to investigate the matter.

After capturing power through constitutional means in 2004, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government rejected the report submitted by the commission and the whole matter was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Accordingly, after detailed investigation, the CBI lodged an FIR on October 9, 2006 naming George Fernandes, the then defence minister and Sushil Kumar, the then Indian Navy Chief. Suresh Nanda, son of the former Indian Navy chief Admiral S M Nanda was named as the middleman in the deal and was arrested too. The CBI accused Suresh Nanda of receiving Rs 4 million in kickbacks after a deal to buy the Barak missiles.

After finding his name into the Barak missile scandal, George Fernandes had to resign from his post, which he later reinstated.

Today, more than one-and-a-half years have been gone since the CBI lodged FIR. Finally, the CBI has quizzed George Fernandes twice this month in connection with alleged irregularities in the purchase of Barak missiles. The details of the questioning have been kept secret.