 "Exclusive: DRDO responds to Firstpost story on 'security breach' at BrahMos HQ by ex-DG")
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has issued a response to allegations of a security breach at BrahMos Aerospace headquarters by senior scientist, Sudhir Mishra. The response addresses concerns about potential mishandling and unauthorised removal of confidential documents from the premises.
In an exclusive report published on Wednesday, May 1, Firstpost had revealed that an investigation by the DRDO Vigilance Department had pointed to Mishra, former Director General (DG) of DRDO and ex-CEO of BrahMos Aerospace, moving confidential documents outside of BrahMos headquarters. ( Read the story here )
The Directorate of Public Interface (DPI), DRDO, on Thursday, May 2, said that the organisation had “received a complaint against Dr Sudhir Kumar Mishra, Ex CEO & MD of BrahMos Aerospace. Based upon the complaint, a Fact Finding Inquiry Committee was formed by Secretary DDR&D and Chairman DRDO. However the committee didn’t find any evidence to back the allegation levied.”
Firstpost, in its exclusive report, had pointed out that around the time of Mishra’s retirement, on November 20, 2021, a logistics company called Big Logistics India Pvt Ltd, was hired to move out approximately 40 boxes of various sizes from his office in BrahMos.
A document from Big Logistics, part of the investigation report, has revealed the items that were moved out of BrahMos.
According to this document, four people, over the course of four days from November 27 through November 30, moved books and documents packed in eight big cartons. Big Logistics moved these to an unnamed place in Vasant Kunj. In addition to this, approximately 100 alcohol bottles, various wall paintings, gift items like bedsheets, blankets, towels, and the like, were moved out from BrahMos HQ.
The document, has been signed by Raj Kapoor, a Senior Manager at Big Logistics.
Mishra told _Firstpost, “_The allegations in the report mentioned in the story are all false. Why will I return something? I had nothing with me which I am supposed to return […] I have worked in government of India for 38 years, and I know the value of each and every paper. Not a single paper that has been labelled ‘classified’, not a single official paper has gone out with me. What I have taken out is my personal belongings which everybody does when you retire.”
He called the allegations an attempt to damage his reputation. “When you lead an organisation for so many years, there are people who are affected, some times favourably, some times adversely. So once you depart they try to create stories and rumours and do this kind of reputational damage,” he said.
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More ShortsHe emphasised that “the DRDO Fact finding committee has formally investigated the matter and refuted all allegations after discussing with all concerned officials.” He said that the adverse reports are being circulated now as DRDO is about to declare results of Consultancy position of Dr Raja Rammana Chair, for which he might be in the selected list.
Firstpost’s requests for comment to BrahMos Aerospace have not been answered.
This story has been updated to accommodate Sudhir Mishra’s response. Mishra responded on May 3. Firstpost originally published the story on May 2.
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