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Govt orders fresh tests for CRPF bullet-proof vests
The government will ask bidders to submit fresh samples after it scrapped test reports of bullet-proof jackets to be bought for the Central Reserve Police Force.
The government will ask bidders to submit fresh samples after it scrapped test reports of bullet-proof jackets to be bought for the Central Reserve Police Force.
The home ministry on Monday rejected the technical evaluation reports for procuring 59,000 vests following charges of irregularities in the process.
It has also ordered disciplinary action against an officer of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), R.K. Verma, for his role in alleged fudging of trials.
“The government has decided to scrap the test reports submitted by Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh while the bidders would be asked to submit fresh samples…,” a ministry spokesman said.
After the CRPF floated the tender for the jackets in July, a technical evaluation committee and a tender advisory committee (TAC) were constituted.
The technical committee also had among its members Verma, the joint director of TBRL — a DRDO laboratory. The lab tested the samples and gave the findings to the TAC, led by the CRPF director general.
While it was looking at the reports, the home ministry in November received complaints alleging violation of norms by the lab during the tests.
Some manufacturers also levelled charges against Verma, who supervised the ballistic tests.
Most suppliers had failed to meet the technical terms and conditions in the first round due to non-compliance of the product evaluation, some complainants said. Still the CRPF went ahead with the second round of testing of the failed samples in a clear violation of the tendering process.
“We found that ballistic testing at the TBRL was highly suspicious and recommended to the home ministry to order testing of the samples afresh,” said a CRPF official, who didn’t wish be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
