Lieutenant colonel Akash Sachan, 41, moved Bombay High Court on Wednesday, claiming that he had been victimised for blowing the whistle on an alleged deal
Lieutenant colonel Akash Sachan, 41, moved Bombay High Court on Wednesday, claiming that he had been victimised for blowing the whistle on an alleged deal of substandard equipment supplied to the Indian Army.
Sachan told the court that he was handed an untimely transfer from Mumbai to Jabalpur for exposing senior officers involved in the contract, which allowed purchases from unauthorised equipment suppliers. He contended that since the quality of equipment, used by jawans posted at borders in sub-zero temperatures, was being compromised by the director general of quality assurance (DGQA) of the Army, it posed a risk to the soldiers and to the citizens.
Sachan pleaded with the court to quash his transfer order of June 17 — he is supposed to finish his tenure at the DGQA in Vikhroli in December. He also urged the court to constitute a committee to probe the alleged illegalities within the DGQA Justice SB Mhase and Justice AA Kumbhakoni on Wednesday said that the court did not wish to interfere with matters concerning internal transfers within the Army.
However, they issued a notice to the Army to come before the court, and adjourned the case till July 16.
Sachan, however, would have to abide by his transfer order and report to his post in Jabalpur on July 4. The petitioner, who joined the Army in 1986, said that he had uncovered the conspiracy hatched between “very senior officers” heading the Defence Quality Assurance Organisation and Sharma Enterprises, a Pune-based private firm.
The illegal deal, said Sanchan, “led to a serious undermining of the defence and fighting capabilities of the nation and jeopardised lives of jawans and officers guarding our frontiers.”
According to Sanchan’s petition, he detected irregularities in non-skid chains and mudguards — the former used in high altitude snow-bound areas to prevent skidding of defence vehicles and the latter in desert. “The material failure of such chains may cause not only massive loss of lives and property, but also undermine the defence preparedness of our brave armed forces.” Sachan said.
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