Barak missile scam

The Barak deal was one of the biggest scams perpetrated. This scandal pertains to the procurement of the Barak Missile Systems from Israel by India. Several alleged accomplices to this scam had been nailed by the CBI, following an investigation in the scam, which includes the ex – treasurer of the Samata Party, R K Jain. Other important politicians and eminent authorities indicted in the First Investigation Report includes ex – Defense Minister George Fernandes, politician Jaya Jaitley and ex – naval officer Suresh Nanda (son of the retired Chief of the Naval Staff, S M Nanda).The Barak Missile System was the result of the joint venture of the Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and the RAFAEL Armament Industry of Israel. India had penned contracts with Israel on 23rd October, 2000 to purchase seven such missile systems, the budget for which was USD 199.50 million and 200 missiles at a cost of USD 69.13 million.  This contract was finalized in the face of severe disagreement of several people including members of the group, who had initially visited Israel to ratify the performance of the missile system. APJ Abdul Kalam, the then Chief of the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO), had also raised strong objections against the procurement contract.

The Barak scandal was exposed in 2001, with the Tehelka publishing the infamous ‘Operation West End’ tapes, which clearly depicted eminent personalities like R K Jain, Samata Party treasurer and close associates of George Fernandes, comparing notes on bribes associated with defense procurements including the Barak deal. As per the claims of R K Jain, Nanda gave him a bribe of Rs 1crore to ensure that Fernandes ratified the Rs 1,150 crore Barak deal. Initial CBI probes had indicated that a total of Rs 174 crores had been paid as bribes, starting from the top rungs of the Defense hierarchy to the bottom, for swinging the Barak deal.

CBI to close case on the Barak missile scam:

After investigating the Barak missile scam for seven years, the CBI is closing the case on the grounds of lack of evidence against the chief alleged in the case, which includes the former Defense Minister George Fernandes, ex – Samata Party President Jaya Jaitley, former Navy Chief Admiral Sushil Kumar and businessman Suresh Nanda.In the recent case closure report by the CBI, the investigative body has announced that it was unable to unearth any decisive evidence that indicated bribery or other distortions involved with the contract. The decision that the case should be closed came from one of the top authorities of the CBI. As per the statement released on behalf of the CBI, “The alleged abnormality in giving contract to Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) could not be substantiated”. The CBI had also made several arrests in connections with the investigations into the Barak Missile deal. While the CBI’s move of closing the case is congruent with its performance history of total incapability to unravel defense corruptions, as of 12th November, 2013 the MoD has taken the decision to push forward with the Barak missile deal, finalizing the procurement of 262 Barak missiles manufactured by the IAI and the RAFAEL industries of Israel. The Defense Acquisition Council had furnished a special panel to clear the deal of any legal complications, after the MoD received a green light from the Attorney General on closing the deal.