SANJAY BHANDARI'S EXTRADITION WILL EXPOSE 'IRREGULARITIES' IN AIR COMMAND SCAM

Arms deals involving defence government public sector undertakings that were brokered by arms dealer and middleman Sanjay Bhandari between 2009 and 2010, are likely to come on the radar of investigative agencies once Bhandari is extradited to India from London.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

The aforesaid period also coincides with the timeframe when the Indian Air Force started operation of its network-centric warfare capability, Air Force Net (AFNET). AFNET is a fibre optic-based network on which the integrated air command and control system (IACCS) of the IAF is based. The AFNET was used to link IAF’s ground, air and space assets so that its officers could have complete situational awareness of the area that they wanted to secure and dominate.

The IAF started AFNET in September 2010. Last year in December, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR against 12 individuals, of which six were and are associated with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for their alleged role in the Rs 7,900 crore worth IACCS project in which private companies were given lucrative and sensitive government contracts despite not meeting the minimum criteria in lieu of monetary and other benefits.

In November last year, a London court, in its 107-page judgement, accepted the Government of India’s plea to extradite Bhandari to India where he is facing multiple criminal charges. Once he is extradited, his questioning is likely open the proverbial can of worms and indict many serving and retired top officials.