Indian Investigation In the Akash Missile System Contract Terminated Due To “Lack of Evidence”

India’s top criminal investigation agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation, has closed its investigation into alleged irregularities in a $92 million contract awarded Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to produce the Akash missile system citing lack of evidence.

The CBI began its probe last May after allegations surfaced that the then Chief Managing Director Maj Gen (retd) Ravi Khetarpal, and other senior officials were involved in the irregularities in the contract.

According to local reports, the agency had recommended "suitable action" against the officials for alleged violation of rules but there was no evidence to proceed against them in the matter. Repeated attempts to seek reaction from BDL and Tata Power did not succeed.

The Akash weapon system is an all-weather air-defence missile system which can target aircraft upto 30 kilometers away, at altitudes up to 18,000 metres. The automatic system is designed to target and neutralise multiple aerial targets coming from several directions simultaneously is in operational service with the army and the air force.