Scorpene deal scam

The Scorpène deal scam was an Indian bribery scandal, in which USD 175 million (Rupees 1,100 crores) were alleged to have been paid to the Government of India’s defence procurement decision makers by Thales, a French defence and aerospace company.^[1] In 2005, the Minister of Defence, Pranab Mukherjee, approved the deal to build Scorpène-class submarines, which was worth US$3 billion (Rupees 19,000 crores) with Thales. However, in 2008, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), found no evidence of corruption in the deal.^[2][3] Scorpène-class submarines are now being built in India under a technology transfer agreement that was part of that contract.

Allegations and investigation

The amount of US$175 million was allegedly channeled and paid to middleman billionaire arms dealer Abhishek Verma who is known as the Lord of War^[4] and is the prime accused in the Navy War Room spy scandal and many other defense scandals in India.^[5]

The investigation moved very slowly. In 2007, Prashant Bhushan of the Centre for Public Interest Litigation filed a petition with the Delhi High Court to investigate whether there had been kickbacks in the Scorpène-class submarine deal. The Delhi High Court took a strong line with the investigating agency CBI, saying "We feel dissatisfied with what you've done so far. If you've tried to shield someone, then we will come down very heavily on you".^[6] French submarine manufacturer Thales refuted the charges, with its country director in India, Francois Dupont, saying, "The e-mails are forgeries and we have sued the news magazine for this."^[7] Arms dealer Abhishek Verma sued former Deputy Prime Minister of India L.K.Advani and Outlook magazine for criminal defamation in 2006 for maligning his name and launching attacks merely on account of political vendetta.^[8] In 2016, Abhishek Verma and L.K.Advani resolved their differences amicably and Verma withdrew his defamation case against Advani from Punjab and Haryana High Court.^[9]

Result

In 2008, the CBI told the Delhi High Court that after investigations, it had found no evidence of payment of kickbacks in the US$6 billion deal. However the case dragged on for eight years in Delhi High Court. On 13 January 2016 the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court dismissed the PIL (Public Interest Litigation) filed by Prashant Bhushan in 2007, thereby exonerating Abhishek Verma.^[10][11][12]

References

1. Sudheendra Kulkarni (26 February 2006). "Of Scorpene, Scorpions and the coming 'sting'". Indian Express.
2. "No evidence of kickbacks in Scorpene deal, CBI tells HC". Hindustan Times. 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
3. "No evidence of kickbacks in Scorpene deal: CBI". Sify. 17 May 2008. Archived from the original on 29 January 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
4. "DER SPIEGEL: Abhishek Verma Lord of War".
5. "CBI raids Navy, Army Headquarters". CNN-IBN. 23 June 2006. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
6. Saikat Datta (21 January 2008). "A Sea of Subterfuge". Outlook. 48 (3). Retrieved 26 April 2012.
7. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/scorpene-submarine-deal-upa-refutes-allegations-of-kickbacks-says-it-only-renegotiated-nda-contract/1/181731.html Dodging torpedoes - Scorpene deal: UPA refutes allegations of kickbacks, says it only renegotiated NDA contract
8. "OUTLOOK: Abhishek Verma sues LK Advani for criminal defamation in 2006".
9. "Abhishek Verma withdraws his criminal case against Advani May 2, 2016".
10. "No evidence of money received linked to Scorpene".
11. "India Today: PIL on Scorpene Submarines purchases dismissed by Delhi High Court January 13, 2016".
12. "Full text of Order of Delhi High Court dismissing PIL on Scorpene purchases January 13, 2016".