New Delhi: Every single test report submitted by a Hyderabad-based private company to certify the quality of mechanical components it supplied for the Tejas Mk1A programme has been found to be forged, according to an FIR lodged on a complaint by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The case is significant because it concerns quality certification of components destined for the Tejas Mk1A, India’s flagship indigenous fighter programme.
The FIR, registered against M. Sivarama Prasad, chief executive officer of Tec Aero Devices, invokes sections 420, 465 and 468 of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code (IPC) dealing with charges of cheating, forgery and forgery for the purpose of cheating.
According to the complaint, HAL had placed 18 purchase orders with Tec Aero Devices between March 2022 and September 2023 for the supply of various components required for the Tejas Mk1A programme, a project that has been delayed by over two years.
Interestingly, the private company had also previously supplied bigger components for other aerospace projects, including the Sukhoi fighter fleet and Dornier aircraft.
Under HAL’s procurement procedures, vendors are required to submit material test certificates, inspection reports and other quality assurance documents before supplied items can be accepted in bulk.
These documents certify that the components meet the technical specifications and airworthiness standards laid down by HAL.
The FIR states that Tec Aero Devices submitted 199 test reports covering 172 components supplied to HAL. The components included nuts, bolts and other fasteners—small but critical mechanical parts whose failure can have serious implications for aircraft safety and performance.
As part of routine quality assurance checks, HAL sought the original reports relating to tensile strength, hardness, break load, shear, non-destructive testing, microstructure and salt-spray tests. These are standard qualification and acceptance tests used in the aerospace industry to verify the integrity and durability of components.
However, the supplier was unable to produce the original documents.
Tec Aero Devices informed HAL through a letter dated 22 November 2023 that the reports had been issued by Hyderabad-based Axis Inspection Solutions. HAL contacted the testing agency on 29 November 2023 for authentication of the results.
According to the FIR, Axis Inspection Solutions responded that none of the 199 reports had been issued by the company. It further stated in writing that its name and signatures had been misused to create fabricated test certificates.
Following the discovery, HAL initiated internal proceedings and, in March 2024, debarred Tec Aero Devices from doing business with the state-run aerospace major for three years, until 10 March 2027.
The FIR notes that HAL subsequently conducted a series of internal meetings and followed due process before deciding to initiate criminal proceedings. The company said the delay in filing the FIR was a result of these internal procedures.
While the components involved were relatively small mechanical items, aerospace manufacturing relies heavily on certified testing and traceability, making the authenticity of quality assurance documentation a critical requirement.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
Also Read: GE delivers sixth F404 engine for Tejas Mk1A to HAL, but delays continue