By Aritra Banerjee
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India’s premier investigative agency, has implicated Rolls Royce India Private Limited and BAE Systems in an explosive scandal that threatens to rock the foundations of India’s defence industry. Tim Jones, Director of Rolls Royce India Pvt Ltd, along with alleged arms dealers Sudhir Chaudhrie and Bhanu Chaudhrie, and other yet-to-be-identified public servants and private individuals are among the key players alleged to be involved in a multi-layered conspiracy.
The contentious issue at the centre of this controversy involves a scheme purportedly designed to defraud the Government of India (GoI) during the procurement of Hawk Aircraft from Rolls Royce plc and its group companies, including Rolls Royce Turbomeca Limited.
CBI alleges that unnamed public servants exploited their official positions, sanctioning and procuring 24 Hawk 115 Advance Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft for GBP 734.21 million. It is also believed they facilitated the licensed production of 42 additional aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s state-run aerospace and defence company.
This unfolding drama paints a concerning picture of India’s defence procurement processes and throws a harsh light on foreign companies’ roles in India’s defence sector.
The procurement of Hawk aircraft is pivotal to India’s plans to modernise its air force and foster its domestic aerospace industry, hence the scandal’s fallout may reverberate far beyond the immediate parties involved. The repercussions may impact relations with primary foreign suppliers.
This episode underscores the necessity for vigilance and transparency within the country’s defence and aerospace sectors, especially considering India’s history of corruption in defence deals.
Rolls-Royce plc in London responded to these allegations, stating: “Rolls-Royce plc is continuing to assist the Indian authorities. The allegations being investigated by the CBI were disclosed in the Deferred Prosecution Agreement agreed with the UK’s Serious Fraud office in 2017. Rolls-Royce today is a fundamentally different business. We will not tolerate business misconduct of any sort and are committed to maintaining high ethical standards.”
They also highlighted their commitment to the Indian market, stating, “India remains an important market for Rolls-Royce and we have a valued ecosystem of skilled people and partners in the country.”
The company’s response underscores the transformation of their internal ethics and compliance procedures, which led to the expiration of deferred prosecution agreements with both the UK’s Serious Fraud Office and US Department of Justice. “Rolls-Royce today is a fundamentally different business: a good corporate citizen with zero tolerance of business misconduct of any sort,” a spokesperson said.
However, in light of the ongoing investigation, they declined to elaborate on the specific steps being taken to address this situation, stating, “Rolls-Royce plc is continuing to assist the Indian authorities. Cannot comment further.”
A BAE Systems spokesperson said: “We are committed to maintaining high standards of ethical conduct that our customers, shareholders, partners and colleagues expect. It would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation.”
As this high-stakes case continues to unfold, Indian Aerospace & Defence promises to deliver the most comprehensive coverage, offering insights and updates on a story that may shape the contours of India’s defence procurement landscape.
