Attendance of top Air Force officials at a private party sponsored by foreign defence vendors has created flutters in the Government circles. The IB has submitted a detailed report to the Defence Ministry citing presence of Vice-Chief of Air Staff DC Kumaria, who retired from service on Sunday, at a farewell party organised earlier this month in his honour. A large number of representatives of foreign defence firms — including Boeing, Raytheon and lockheed Martin — were present.
The party was organised at India Habitat Centre on June 7 in which three other serving Air Vice Marshals were also present. All these officials are directly related to procurement, a reason why the operation was carried out by the agency.
The sources said the party was sponsored by foreign defence firms and presence of senior officials was in clear contravention of service rules. The party organised for the Air Marshal-rank officer has raised the hackles of the top brass in the Defence Ministry and security agencies because of the presence of arms dealers and service officials in a private function, agency sources said.
The Intelligence Bureau has also issued an advisory to prevent hobnobbing between arms dealers and senior service officials in order to maintain transparency in defence procurement.
According to the code of conduct, officials are barred from attending private parties. Attendance of senior service officials in private functions has especially raised the hackles as a number of retired officials have joined foreign vendors. The IB has also furnished to the Defence Ministry the list of officials and representatives of defence firms who attended the party and the invite sent to Kumaria.
“No Government servant shall, except with the previous sanction of the Government, receive any complimentary or valedictory address or accept any testimonial or attend any meeting or entertainment held in his honour; or in the honour of any other Government servant,” says the code of conduct.
The Defence Ministry also keeps issuing advisories to its officials and the Services against officers hobnobbing with arms vendors in order to maintain transparency and probity in defence deals.
An agency report quoted Major SS Pandey, an expert on military laws, saying, “As per the code of conduct for military officers, any officer attending such parties or farewells has to seek permission from his superiors and also give proper reasons for doing so.”“The IAF has no knowledge of any such private farewell party,” an IAF spokesperson told an agency.
Over six years ago, a lieutenant General-rank official holding the post of Director General of Military Operations was removed for allegedly meeting with the officials of an embassy here in the Capital without due permission from the Ministry.