IAF, defence accounts officers to help CBI probe chopper deal

New Delhi, Mar 3, 2013 (PTI)

Officials from Indian Air Force (IAF) and Defence Accounts Department will join a special CBI team formed to probe the allegation of payment of kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter deal as the investigating agency prepares to examine suspects named in its Preliminary Enquiry (PE).

Sources in the agency said an IAF officer would be joining the CBI team along with some officials from the Controller General of Defence Accounts to examine the documents collected from Milan as well as from Italian-based Finmeccanica, parent company of AgustaWestland helicopter.

The special CBI team, to be assisted by the Income Tax department sleuths as well, will study the necessity of changing the specification of the helicopter besides the money trail, they said.

Former IAF chief S P Tyagi and his three cousins are among 11 individuals named in the PE registered by the CBI on February 24 besides four companies.

Suspected European middlemen Carlo Garosa, Christian Michel and Guido Haschkhe, advocate Gautam Khaitan formerly associated with Aeromatrix and its CEO Praveen Bakshi, former Finmeccanica Chairman Giuseppe Orsi, former AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini, have also been named.

The CBI will examine some of the officials from the Aeromatrix and IDS Infotech, the sources said, adding that Tyagis including Julie, Dosca and Sanjeev Tyagi, cousins of former IAF chief, will be questioned at a later stage.

The Defence Ministry has handed over the documents to the CBI which includes replies from the AgustaWestland to its show cause notice issued besides some internal communication of the ministry pertaining to the deal.

 

 

   

 

DRDO scientist held in terror plot set to be freed, MoD sacks him

 

On the eve of his release, the Defence ministry has terminated the services of Aijaz Ahmed Mirza, 25, a junior research scientist at the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) who was arrested by the Bangalore police in an alleged terrorism plot last August. Mirza is set to be released on bail next week following the special court's order, as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has not filed a chargesheet against him.

Mirza's father, Abdul Rauf Mirza, 57, a Railways employee, said they received the termination letter, dated February 12, a couple of weeks ago.
"We got a letter saying his services as a junior research fellow at the DRDO's Centre for Airborne Systems was being terminated as of February 12, they have not given any particular reason. I don't know what to do about it. My son will be released in a couple of days. I will discuss what he wants to do — whether he wants to appeal the termination or not,'' he said.
Mirza was awarded a junior research fellowship by the DRDO on December 15, 2011, after an extensive screening process that included background checks. He took up the fellowship on January 9, 2012.
Mirza, who hails from Hubli in North Karnataka, shared a small house in Bangalore with his younger brother Shoaib Ahmed Mirza, 23, a student of a post-graduate computer applications degree course, and four other youths from Hubli. All six youths were arrested on August 29 by the Bangalore Police for alleged terror links

OrdnanceFactory DUM DUM

KOLKATA: The DumDum Ordnance Factory is planning to have global presence in the near future by exporting its arms components to NATO and African countries.

"Our products are of the highest quality and our cost of production is also low. What we are producing are only addressing the needs of the country. So in the near future if we can increase production we can export our products," the factory's General Manager, Vinod Kumar Singh said.

"We have plans in the near future to export our products to NATO and African countries. It is a long term plan, it is still in a planning stage. We have sent the plan to the Ordnance Board," Singh said.

The factory produces ammunition boxes, tail units for air force bombs such as TU-250 And TU450, 20 round and 30 round polymer magazines for 5.56 assault rifles, LMG 5.56, tail unit 100-120 kg air bomb and other components for arms and armaments used by the Indian armed forces.

"Now we are changing from component manufacture to technology manufacture. It requires total change in mindset," Singh said.

Singh said that from the next financial year, the factory would also produce parts for the T-90 tank which were being imported from Russia.

OF AMBAJHARI

Recruitment scam at Nagpur Ordnance Factory

CBI has registered offences against against Bhabatosh Basant Mazumdar, an examiner and a union leader at Ordnance Factory (OF) and his son Soman Mazumdar and other OF officials for accepting bribe to the tune of Rs3-4 lakh per candidate for recruitment of labourers.

SP Sandip Tamgadge said, "Nearly 25,000 applicants had applied for 250 posts and appeared for the preliminary examination on February 1. Of these, approximately 5,000 appeared for the main exam Sunday, February 24. "
"CBI had information about demand of Rs 3.5 lakh being made for facilitating recruitment. A trap was laid and Soman was caught. He confessed to his and his father's involvement and senior OF officers," he added.

CBI cases against HVF,OFPM officials

KOCHIl: Mumbai-based businesswoman, who allegedly mediated in a deal between Thrissur-based Steel and Industrial Forgings Ltd (SIFL) and various ordnance factories for supplying components of battle tanks, has been arrested, CBI sources said on Friday.
The arrest last night, the first in the case, followed after Subi Malli, who was being interrogated, allegedly refused to cooperate, CBI sources said.
She was being questioned by CBI during the past few days.
Malli has been charged with conspiracy, corruption and causing loss to the exchequer. She had allegedly received Rs 18 lakh as commission from SIFL for mediating in the deal, the sources said.
CBI had registered FIR against three persons-- M Shahnavaz, Managing director of SIFL, the company senior manager, Valsan and Malli for allegedly colluding with some officials of Heavy Vehicles factory at Avadi and bagging contracts at highly inflated rates, causing loss to the state exchequer.
Some unknown persons of the Avadi unit have also been mentioned in the case, CBI sources said.
The allegation against the accused is that SIFL officials conspired with Malli to influence the public servants of defence establishment at Avadi and bagged some contracts at highly inflated rates and cheated the exchequer. The case was registered after searches were conducted on January 15 and 16 at the residences and premises of the suspects in Kerala, Mumbai, Avadi and Hyderabad.
SIFL is a regular supplier of road wheel arm and flange used in the manufacture of artillery tanks.
It is alleged that Malli got in touch with officials of SIFL regarding supply made to the Ordnance factory at Madek in Hyderabad in January last year. SIFL's tender was at first rejected and the same product was retendered quoting a higher price and the company managed to secure the contract.
The deal came to light after the director board of SIFL raised objection to granting of commission

National Defence Group B Gazetted Officers Association Meeting with MOD Officials

                        MEETING WITH JOINT SECY/MOD ON 12/02/2013


DEAR FRIENDS,
                           The office bearers of NDGBGOA discussed following points along with Joint secretary/MOD (DP) on 12/02/2013.

1- Recognition of NDGBGOA-Recognition paper has been cleared by JOINT SECRETARY and forwarded to Additional Secretary which will be submitted to D JCM within this week.

2-CADRE REVIEW- Regarding cadre review there was a brief discussion and our association pointed out that there is negligible aspects for a Group B Gazetted officer to get a promotion to  group A organised cadre even after completion of more than 12-14 years of service as JWM. IT is brought to the notice of Joint Secretary that there is only 187 promotional posts are existing for a 7700 JWMs which is negligible.Moreover the cadre review committee report is not being forwarded by OFB till date.Finally Joint Secretary/MOD(DP) assured  that with consultation of assn cadre review will be finalised. The promotional avenue of JWM cadre will be taken care in cadre review.
3- NATURE OF WORK OF JWMs- Regarding nature work of JWMs it was brought to the notice of JS that all the JWMs are demoralised day by day in the OFB due to the lack of promotional avenue, less financial benefits and there is no clear instruction on nature of work to JWMs. One way JWMs are designed as a Managers but forced to perform supervisory staff in round the clock without any financial benefit of Night Duty Allowance.Joint Secretary/MOD(DP) assured  to study the case and will visit all the Factories for feasible solution. Regarding nature of work and SRO of JWMs, the matter was discussed with Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary.It was brought to their notice that the letter issued by MOD, Dept of production and supply t in 1st october 2002  regarding supervisory staff  and SRO indicates  JWM as Group B gazetted (Ministerial) which means clerical job. Finally under secretary assured that this issue may be taken up by association and forwarded to MOD for removal of the letter issued in 2002 and ministerial from the SRO. In this regard assn has made the letter to MOD which will be sent in this week.
4- Cancellation of transfer of JWMs- Regarding the last Cancellation of Transfer Order of JWMs JS/DP assured that it will be reinstalled shortly and the matter will be taken care at the earliest.

This is for the information to our members.

All the Branch Chairman/ Secretary are requested to make maximum membership in their branches for the 
year 2013-14.

Yours Brotherly,
General Secretary,
NDGBGOA/CE

Revision of Pension of Pre-2006 pensioners

F.No.38/37/08-P&PW(A)

Government of India

Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions

Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor Lok Nayak Bhawan,

Khan Market, New Delhi-110 003,

Dated the 13th February, 2013.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub:- Revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners — reg.

The undersigned is directed to say that in pursuance of Government’s decision on the recommendations of Sixth Central Pay Commission, orders were issued for revision of pension/family pension vide this Department’s OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 1.9.2008, as amended from time to time.

2. The pension/family pension of pre-2006 pensioners was stepped up to 50% of the sum of minimum of pay in the pay band and the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which the pensioner had retired as arrived at with reference to the filment tables annexed to the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure OM No.1/1/2008-IC dated 30th August, 2008 with effect from 24.9.12 vide this Department OM of even number dated 28th January, 2013.

3. In regard to disbursement of revised pension/family pension, while Head of Departments are responsible for sanctioning of pension/family pension, in cases where revision has already been done by PAOs consequent to 6th CPC, the revision may be effected at the level of PAOs. A copy of the revised authority may be sent to HOD/DDO for record. In cases where no revision has been effected, Head of Offices may follow normal procedure for revision of pension/family pension. Even in cases where there is no change in pension/family pension as a result of the issue of this OM,a revised authority for no change may be issued by the PAOs. The finalized authority will be sent to CPAO for further necessary action.

4. A suitable entry regarding the revised pension/family pension shall be recorded by the pension Disbursing Authority in both halves of the Pension Payment Order.

5. In case the pension/family pension in respect of pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners has not already been revised w.e.f. 1.1.2006, the same may also be revised for the period upto 23.9.2012 in terms of order dated 1.9.2008 and subsequent orders thereto and for the period from 24.9.12 in terms of order of even number dated 28.1.2013.

6. CGA/CPAO/Ministry of Defence/Ministry of Railways/Department of Posts/Department of Telecom will devise their own monitoring mechanism to ensure that enhanced pension and arrears are disbursed to all civil pensioners/family pensioners expeditiously.

sd/-

(Tripti P Ghosh)

Director