Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recommended blacklisting two Indian and four foreign defence firms for their alleged involvement in a multi-crore rupee Ordnance Factory Board corruption scam that surfaced last year.
In its letter to the defence ministry, the CBI has named six firms that allegedly conspired with then chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board Sudipta Ghosh to receive favours in orders given to private companies, a source said.

The firms named are: Singapore Technologies Kinetics, Israel Military Industries Ltd, Switzerland-based Rheinmetall Air Defence and a company identified by the source as Russia’s Cooperation Defence.

The source said the two Indian firms are T.S. Kisan and Co. New Delhi and R.K. Machines Tools Ltd. of Ludhiana.

The letter sent last week is advisory and it is up to the ministry to take action on it.

On June 30, the CBI filed a chargesheet in a Kolkata court naming two Indian firms and 12 people, including Gosh, for the alleged criminal conspiracy and corruption.

Ghosh was arrested last year for demanding and obtaining huge illegal gratification.

A special CBI judge has sent a letter rogatory to Singapore for investigating the matter.

The agency had was registered a case in the matter May 17, 2009 under the Prevention of the Corruption Act against Ghosh and others.

It was alleged that Ghosh had also demanded bribes to transfer and post some ordnance factories officers.