|
-35-
*
* *
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: I have said, "No", to Sagem. In
fact, Sagem had approached the Defence Secretary. Defence
Secretary was keen that we trial evaluate. Army put its foot
down. Now, when we do that, it is recorded in the file. How
can I take up a case for your company?
TEHELKA: No…no, sir, if I will now recommend from the
ministry. From…
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY (interrupting): No,
no, even if the ministry says. They will ask me, "You have
said 'no' to him then, why are you saying 'yes' now?" You
see, there are questions asked. There's…that's why I said,
this product, please don't talk. Have you got something else
where I can advice you.
*
* *
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: The first thing is…show me your
brochure and get it evaluated by me. If it fits the bill,
I'll advice you to go to ECIL with your offer because they
have already got other offers.
TEHELKA: Okay.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: And ECIL is then, is to give me
the full product. You see, you're getting your product through
them. That product has to be integrated into the tank or the...
All that ECIL will take care of. And it will offer as…as a
collaborated product of theirs.
TEHELKA: Okay.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: Because the kind of navigation
system required today is not available. We would have bought
it twho years ago had the nuclear blasts not taken place.
TEHELKA: Yeah, yeah, yeah…
*
* *
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: (nodding): These defence
purchases are so intricate, so many people…people looking…
TEHELKA: Yeah, exactly sir, that is true thing. That
is very true.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: Unless…that's what I am saying.
You look after the minister; I get my stuff.
TEHELKA: Yeah, yeah.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: Something comes to the Army. You
look after the minister or whomever you want….
TEHELKA: Yeah.
*
* *
|
General Choudary explains further how the technical evaluation
process goes and at what stage the commission comes in.
He also takes his gift. |
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: Initial job is mine. To put everybody
who's approached or who has…whom I know is capable, I put
him in the play.
TEHELKA: Okay.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: Then we ask them for technical
proposals.
TEHELKA: Okay, okay, okay.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: Full specifications, what are the
capabilities of your system, and then see is it matching with
ours.
TEHELKA: Okay.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: What we need. Out of 10, five will
be weeded out when we take the evaluation. Without even seeing
the equipment, based on data that is provided.
[T coughs]
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: Balance five people, after technical
evaluation, are asked, "Bring your stuff for trials immediately
on no-cost basis".
TEHELKA: Hmm.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: Then you carry your trial and evaluation.
In the trials, out of five, three may get weeded out; only
two may come out winners.
TEHELKA: In short-list?
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY (nodding): Till that
is my job. After that, between the two, who gets it is the
ministry's job. That's on commission [Indicating with his
index finder and thumb that money is involved at this 'commission'
stage.]
TEHELKA: Okay. In the bureaucrat, what…what they will
play the role? See, because major role will play the user,
that's you…your side.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: That is my side. That's what I
said.
TEHELKA: Now…not…now, not in the bureaucratic or politicians'
side?
[Choudary shakes his head]
TEHELKA: Okay.
[T slaps his thigh in a show of excitement]
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: Thereafter, it's entirely with
the ministry to call for the commercial…
TEHELKA: And who will decide the PNC and everything?
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: I am a member of that too. To advice…
but it is generally chaired by the joint secretary of the
ministry.
TEHELKA: Okay, sir it's right information. Now I got
the right information.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: No one individual can assure you.
TEHELKA: Yeah.
TEHELKA: I can give a…small gift for you?
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY (smiles): You already
gave me a…
TEHELKA: No, sir. This is my…I am not saying that anything…haan?
[T turns around and opens his briefcase. He takes out a
wad of rupees and closes the briefcase.]
TEHELKA (getting up to hand the money to Gen. Choudary):
Sir, one lakh.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: (Expressing surprise but accepting
the money anyway): Money?
[He puts money in the front right pocket of his trousers.]
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: This is not…
TEHELKA: No, this is my…my…my…happiness.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: But, please remember, there is
no one individual can help you in this.
TEHELKA: Yes, sir.
MAJ. GEN. CHOUDARY: We can only put in…put in our bit.
TEHELKA: Okay.
[Pause]
Let's come back a bit to our old friend R.K. Jain of the
Samata Party.
For the president of West End, Jain was busy organizing
meetings with Cabinet ministers-the likes of Ram Vilas
Paswan and Yashwant Sinha. Also ministers
of state like Santosh Gangwar, Digvijay Singh and five-six
Members of Parliament. The purpose of the exercise was
to show off his access, make money from organizing the
access and further money by brokering any deal
with any of these ministers. In fact, Jain thought, the
big group that West End was it would have a 'project'
for each of the ministers. Though none of the ministers
had anything to do with West End's defence project, we
decided
to undertake the exercise if only to show the porousness
of our political
system and their shocking susceptibility to money power.
|
R.K. JAIN (interrupting): Hundred per
cent. With Sharad Yadav, with Yashwant Sinha we can do 100
per cent work. With Digvijay Singh…I am not lying, boss…
TEHELKA: Okay, tell me.
R.K. JAIN: They are there…
TEHELKA: Sir, I know…I know your frankness I like.
R.K. JAIN: Then? I don't want to give you false
commitments. Whatever I say because I am not naming 10 people.
Sharad Yadav is 100 per cent. Yashwant Sinha is 100 per cent.
Railways' Digvijay Singh is 100 per cent, Mamta Bannerjee
70 per cent.
TEHELKA: Okay.
R.K. JAIN: Ram Vilas PASWAN, again, 99
per cent…
TEHELKA: Hmm.
R.K. JAIN: One per cent, why I am not saying
because…one is very close to Ram Vilas PASWAN. The
party is separate. Now PASWAN has gone and made another
party.
*
* *
Importantly, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha stands indicted
by Jain hugely
for his corruption. Sinha even managed a loan of Rs. 30
crore for one of Jain's business brothers and just because
Jain was a fellow politician, he took
a paltry Rs. 50 lakh pay-off. |
|
