India Today exposes a bigger scam than the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. The government has ordered inquiry into alleged favours given by the previous UPA government to an Italian shipbuilding firm which provided two naval tankers to India.

In what could be a scam bigger than the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, the government has ordered a probe into alleged ‘favours’ done by the previous Congress-led UPA government in awarding defence contract to an Italian shipbuilding firm. The naval scam could have far bigger implications than the Agusta deal.

According to exclusive details available with India Today, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has ordered a “discreet inquiry” into the alleged naval tanker scam.

The Indian Navy has two fleet tankers INS Deepak and INS Shakti, that provide the Indian Navy’s frontline warships with fuel, water and all other essentials while out in the sea. But the deal signed in 2009 to acquire them is now under scrutiny.

A serving ‘whistleblower’ naval officer has now raised a red flag over the way these ships were acquired from an Italian firm – Fincantieri.

What’s the scam
1. Italian firm – Fincantieri – reportedly favoured by the UPA government. The company won deal from the government for two naval tankers in 2009.

2. The UPA government approved use of inferior quality of steel in the naval tankers manufactured by the firm.

3. The government is now scrutinising details of the contract awarded to the Italian firm.

4. The lid over the scam has been blown off by a former naval officer who has demanded an investigation into the 2009 purchase of two fleet tankers, crucial for Indian Navy’s deep water capabilities.

5. These tankers had to be bought in 2009 and 2011 because INS Vikramaditya, Indian Navy’s biggest aircraft carrier, was coming on from Russia.

6. At that time, the then Defence Minister AK Antony had hailed this as one of the fastest procurements of a fleet tanker manufactured with Indian specifications.

7. There are allegations that instead of using weapons grade steel, commercial grade steel was used.

8. When one of the tankers was coming to India from Russia escorting INS Vikramaditya, it ran into rough seas and hull of the brand new ship developed cracks.