CBI registers case against RAW officials in Tent scam

A case of corruption has been registered against unknown officials of Research and Analysis Wing and a private firm for alleged irregularities in supplying high-altitude tents to a covert unit of the intelligence agency.

CBI sources said the agency has registered the case against Sai Baba Builders and Consultants and its three directors Shyam Sunder Bhatter, J P N Singh and Manjari who is the wife of S P Singh, a close aide of Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (retd) V K Singh.

"The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against a Delhi-based private firm along with their directors; unknown officials of the Special Frontier Force (SFF); unknown officials of Cabinet Secretariat," the agency spokesperson said here today.
She said the case is registered under IPC sections related to cheating, forgery among others and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act along with substantive offences thereof.

"It has been alleged that wrongful favour was shown by the officials of the SFF and Cabinet Secretariat in the matter of the preparation of tender, procurement, supply and installation of the pre-fabricated shelters for SFF troops during the period 2009-13 which were purchased from the company," she said.

The sources said case is related to alleged corruption in the supply of high altitude tents worth Rs 22 crore required by SFF, a covert unit operating under the external intelligence agency RAW, during 2009-13.

The CBI action came after the agency received a reference received from the Prime Minister's Office which wanted a probe in the matter.

RAW had carried out an internal probe in the matter in which prima facie irregularities were found.

The report was sent to the PMO which referred it to CBI for further probe.
SFF was set up after the 1962 Indo-China war to carry out specialised operations for RAW.