New Delhi: The CBI has arrested Anil Kumar, a senior executive director at the state-run Munitions India Limited (MIL), and Ashish Kansal, CEO and director of defence manufacturer SMPP Limited, over an alleged bribery-linked defence contract and the leaking of sensitive defence production information.
SMPP has been engaged in defence manufacturing for over three decades.
According to the FIR, a copy of which is with ThePrint, the CBI received information that Kumar, in connivance with certain private contractors and vendors, was demanding and accepting bribes in exchange for “official favours and disclosing sensitive information concerning defence production, procurement and other strategically important activities of MIL”.
The CBI alleged that Ashish Kansal, CEO, director and promoter of SMPP Limited—a company engaged in drone technology and ammunition manufacturing—had been in regular contact with Kumar regarding a Rs 500 crore contract awarded to the company to supply ammunition to MIL over a year. Ravit Kumar Tewatia, an SMPP employee, was also in contact with Kumar as part of the alleged conspiracy, the FIR said.
Such unauthorised disclosure has the “potential to compromise the nation’s strategic and security interests, undermine the integrity of defence-related processes, and pose serious risks to national security and public safety”, the FIR added.
Routing illicit proceeds
The CBI further alleged that Kumar had been routing and parking substantial portions of the illicit proceeds through his wife, Chetnashri, his brother, Harshvardhan, and other relatives.
Harshvardhan has also been arrested.
According to the FIR, Kumar’s wife and brother were abetting the alleged offence by helping conceal and retain these proceeds.
The agency also received information that Kumar was due to receive a substantial bribe from Kansal on 12 October.
“In connection with the parking of illicit funds, Anil Kumar has instructed his brother, Harshvardhan, to travel to Pune the following morning and collect the proceeds of corruption for safekeeping and concealment,” the FIR said.
According to the CBI, the information prima facie disclosed a nexus between a public servant occupying a sensitive position in a strategically important defence production organisation and private contractors and vendors seeking access to sensitive information and favourable treatment.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)