Murmur in army over fast-track weapons purchases post-26/11

Fast-track purchases for the army without competitive tendering after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks have come under government scanner following allegations that vested interests were trying to influence decision-making.

Director-general (infantry) Lieutenant General Jasbir Singh, who was overseeing those purchases, besides several other big-ticket procurements for infantry units, was quietly moved out last week.

The official position is Singh had to be shifted out because he completed three years in Delhi. Lieutenant General SN Handa took over from him on March 13.

Sources in the defence establishment, however, said the decision was taken by army chief General Deepak Kapoor “in consultation” with his successor-designate Lieutenant General VK Singh after they were briefed about “vigorous efforts” to push through certain deals. VK Singh takes over as army chief on March 31.

The military top brass was also briefed about certain meetings of some senior officers in their official residences with representatives of arms companies. Such contacts are prohibited.

The sources did not say whether a formal investigation had been launched into purchases and tenders initiated by the infantry directorate. The army leadership could take a re-look at some of these purchases and tenders in the coming days, the sources added.

There were several inputs with the army leadership and the ministry of defence about strong efforts by the infantry directorate to “hastily” push through a host of purchases.    

Those fast-track purchases were sanctioned after the 26/11 attacks, and were mostly meant to equip the Ghatak units.
Each of the infantry units of the Indian army has a Ghatak (lethal) unit which comprises about 20 soldiers trained as commandos for carrying out shock attacks on enemy positions and conducting ambushes.

Government sources said several other tenders of the directorate have come under scrutiny. Among them was the move to purchase a foreign rifle in place of the Insas (Indian small arms system) assault rifle, which is developed by the Ordnance Factory Board. The infantry directorate had also rejected the Insas carbine after several months of trial and without much explanation.