MUMBAI, June 9: In a major quality assurance breach allegation involving India’s frontline combat aircraft programme, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has filed a cheating and forgery complaint against a Hyderabad-based aerospace supplier over the alleged submission of 199 forged test reports linked to components supplied for the Light Combat Aircraft HAL Tejas Mk1A.
According to the complaint lodged by HAL’s Aircraft Division, the PSU aerospace major has accused Tec Aero Devices and its CEO, M. Sivarama Prasad, of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery under Sections 420, 465 and 468 of the Indian Penal Code.
HAL stated that it had placed 18 purchase orders with the Hyderabad-based firm between March 2022 and September 2023 for the supply of critical aircraft components. As per mandatory procurement and quality assurance norms, the supplier was required to submit authentic material test certificates, inspection reports and supporting quality documentation before acceptance of bulk supplies.
However, during routine quality control verification, HAL detected serious irregularities in 199 test reports covering 172 components supplied for the Tejas Mk1A programme. The disputed documents reportedly included critical parameters such as tensile strength, hardness, break load, shear testing, non-destructive testing (NDT), microstructure analysis and salt spray testing.
When HAL sought original source documents for verification, the supplier allegedly failed to produce the records. Instead, it submitted a clarification letter attributing certain reports to Hyderabad-based Axis Inspection Solutions.
To verify the claim, HAL conducted an on-site audit of the laboratory on November 29, 2023. During the inspection, Axis Inspection Solutions reportedly denied issuing any of the 199 test reports and alleged that its name, signatures and credentials had been misused to fabricate documents.
Following the findings, HAL concluded that the quality certification documents submitted by Tec Aero Devices were forged. The PSU subsequently issued a show-cause notice and imposed a three-year debarment on the company, barring it from future business dealings with HAL until March 10, 2027.
Officials confirmed that no payment has been released to the supplier against the disputed supplies, thereby limiting financial exposure in the case.
After internal inquiry and legal consultation, HAL moved ahead with criminal proceedings, leading to the registration of a First Information Report by police. Investigators have now begun examining procurement records and have sought supporting documentation from HAL to substantiate the allegations.
Police sources said the case is being treated as a serious instance of alleged procurement fraud involving defence manufacturing supply chains, and further investigation is underway to determine the extent of forgery and responsibility within the supplier network.
HAL has confirmed the filing of the FIR and said it is fully cooperating with the investigation.
(UNI)
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