Government will scrap any deal involving malpractices: Antony
29 Mar 2012
With the issue of corruption in defence deals back in the spotlight after the army chief's allegations, defence minister A K Antony today said the government would not hesitate to cancel any deal in case of malpractices were found.
The minister said after receiving complaints from an MP about wrongdoings in the deal to procure 126 combat aircraft, the government was holding an inquiry that would run parallel to the contract negotiations with the shortlisted vendor Dassault Aviation (See: Dassault's Rafale bags IAF's $10-billion fighter jet deal).
"If we get any complaint, we will hold an inquiry. If any malpractice is found, we will not hesitate from cancelling any deal even if it is in final stages. We can do it even after the signing of the contract," Antony said at the Defexpo press conference.
The minister said in the recent past also, defence contracts had been cancelled after the complaints about these were found to be true.
Antony added, the defence ministry deals had a strong clause of the Integrity Pact, which had to be signed by vendors taking part in deals worth over Rs100 crore.
The Integrity pact was to guard the country's interests against any malpractice and "there will be no mercy in dealing with such issues".
