Tehelka's Operation West End

{Itall started with Senior Section Officer P. Sashi, in the Ministry of Defence,wanting to make some money from arms dealers. We at Tehelka.comfloated a fictitious arms manufacturing company, based in London, calledWest End International. We were in search of a product whose indent existed inthe Indian Army. We also wanted to get an entry into the lowest end of thedefence chain and work our way upwards through the Indian scenario of graft.Here Sashi, affter getting a monetary incentive, takes us to Brigadier AnilSehgal's house in New Delhi. Sehgal is the deputy director in DGOS, a crucialarmy procurement post. Brigadier Sehgal and P. Sashi give us the two things thatwe need - a defence product and an entry into the gravy train.}

SASHIMENON (to Sehgal): Today we got thatMalaysian binoculars. QA manual. Quality Assurance…call it as manual type. Ithink you might not have seen. Today there…there is a bunch of…one book,booklet is there. Sponsored by Malaysia…. BRIG. ANIL SEHGAL: I know. I've seenthat.

SASHI: Haan.
BRIG. SEHGAL: …in which ADC has written that this should be handed overto W.E.
SASHI: Haan, W.E. Of course.
TEHELKA: Sir, you have to tell us what are the things which, what weshould do…because…this is a field…
BRIG. SEHGAL: This is a very vast field. It's a very, very vast field.

TEHELKA: We are the people who have absolutely no…

[Sashi comes and sits next to Sehgal.]

BRIG. SEHGAL: Okay.

BRIG. SEHGAL (continuing where he left off): There is an annualrequirement…what I foresee…at present, of present equipment of…about10,000 II tubes per year. And in the next four to five years I have not yetcalculated.

TEHELKA:Huge purchases. And those people who are geared…
BRIG. SEHGAL: …good period. I stay in the background…. What I amtelling you, don't discuss it with anyone. It's just between…not meant foryour ears also, but then…

SASHI: That way you can put in a peg and prepare it.
BRIG. SEHGAL: If you can find someone to manufacture the ammunition. That's also in a big way.

TEHELKA: Where do you want me to go…from Russia, Israel? I have gotbase in New York, I have got a base in Canada, Argentina, Chile I have got.

BRIG. SEHGAL: See, now these II tubes…
TEHELKA: France. They'll be coming to you.

BRIG. SEHGAL: France they've been happily...I'll be very frank. You haveto break this…this thing…of BE-Delft. BE-Delft is a PSU, which was…Indiainvested. As of late, there has been a certain policy that nothing would beimported. There are many people who are really interested in that. So you haveto get the nexus broken up at the top. And this BE-Delft thing…

TEHELKA: If I become their authorized…
BRIG. SEHGAL: But BE-Delft is not taking anyone else.
TEHELKA: Okay.

BRIG. SEHGAL: BE-Delft is Bharat Electrical (sic) Delft. Delft isHolland.
TEHELKA: Holland. Okay.

BRIG. SEHGAL: Holland has branched out from itself after the sanctions.US sanctions. What you have to do is get little open...because they have beentalking big. Yeah, we can do this much. But he [referring to SASHI] isaware of it, how much less. They have been taking us, taking us for a ride. Andsomehow the bureaucracy also. And things have been badly manipulated in theMinistry. I'll be very frank with this. Things have been manipulated in theMinistry that…delay things deliberately, to suit them.

[Drinks arrive. They toast each other]

BRIG. SEHGAL:He doesn't have…there are so many other things also which are coming in this.Like you have spares. I can give you which spares' indent was made. I can giveyou the last procurement price. Generally what happens, what the scene is. Theyare not aware till the last minute what rate it was taken at. That I cancalculate and you will also do. Everyone has been coming up with an offer. But Isaid, "Look, first give me 10 lakhs, then we will talk."
TEHELKA: If they are not ready to place the information then the questionof talking further does not arise. Who wants to discuss the future? Sir, in thisI, my people are very clear. They have straight away said that "You goahead and you be a part of the venture." It's not as if I amseparate…would need a guide.

BRIG. SEHGAL: I can help in so many things. I will tell you where to go,whom to meet.
TEHELKA: Everything…meaning…you tell me everything.

BRIG. SEHGAL: But then, see, I can show you the way.
TEHELKA: Bilkul.

BRIG. SEHGAL: But you'll have to move on your own.
TEHELKA: Yes, yes, sir. Once you show us the way, we'll automaticallyfollow it.

{Soonenough comes a demand to be entertained in a five-star hotel. Brigadier Sehgalcomes there with a Lt. Colonel Sharma, who is an army officer posted in the AirForce procurement section. Here, they are entertained and disclose how toproceed}

TEHELKA: Sir, I want to ask…another one thing. One Mr. B. S. Yadavsitting in the Air Headquarters. It's a foreign cell. Sales he is dealing, Ithink in that.
LT. COL. SHARMA: They have got their own procurement. They are basicallydealing with Russians directly.
LT. COL. SHARMA: Because those kind of PNCs [Price Negotiation Committee]and negotiations are done at the ministry level. We don't involve ministry inour world. We do it directly.
BRIG. SEHGAL: This behan chod, they've done a very smart thing. He haskept everything with him.
LT. COL. SHARMA: Fuck it, no CDA, nobody. We issue the tender, call thebloody parties, do the PNC, give the supply order. Screw you.

TEHELKA: Sir, this thing you have said, this we can…in this whateveryou say, we can get everything done. We will…
LT. COL. SHARMA: No, but I told you. We are basically dealing withproprietory items. You have a tie-up with those people.

TEHELKA: We will get the tie-up done. With whoever you want, we will geta tie-knot, we'll get anything done.
LT. COL. SHARMA: All right.

TEHELKA: You tell us, you will only have to tell us who we should tiewith and who we should knot up with, who we should tie the 'naada' with.We will do everything. And whatever you ask, from a pin to anything you wish…
LT. COL. SHARMA: Thursday…on Thursday come to Room No. 221 at VayuBhawan.

LT. COL.SHARMA:Don't they give four options in [Kaun Banega] Crorepati?
TEHELKA: Yeah, okay, okay, okay.

LT. COL. SHARMA: We'll give you 10 options. The rest of the calculationsyou will do.
TEHELKA: Yes, yes. All that's our work.

BRIG. SEHGAL:So, I will give you the details of the ammunition immediately.
TEHELKA: Fine.

BRIG. SEHGAL: The biggest one.
TEHELKA: Okay, okay, okay. That one. If you have understood the lastline.

BRIG. SEHGAL:Right?
SASHI: Sir's Air Force thing is there…

BRIG. SEHGAL: That I have said. How much ammunition we need…you'll gocrazy trying to find out. Behan chod…who will supply this much stuff!
SASHI: Yes, the way BE-Delft is roaming around. Where will they get it?

{After enjoying the hospitality of West End International at afive-star hotel, Brigadier Sehgal demands Rs. 2 lakh to give further documentsrelating to the procurement of Hand-Held Thermal cameras and other equipmentthat West End might be interested in supplying to the Indian Army. He accepts Rs.20,000 and a little while later another Rs. 20,000. He also advises on how toproceed in the matter of bidding for the Hand-Held Thermal cameras.}

TEHELKA: We have apologized for one thing, sir, that whatever ishappening, we are going at a slow pace, but you can be rest assured…

[Gives money to Sehgal]

BRIG. SEHGAL: How much is it?
TEHELKA: This is 20 [thousand], sir.

BRIG. SEHGAL: What will I do with this?
TEHELKA: Whatever is coming, as it is coming, we are giving it to youslowly, slowly.
BRIG. SEHGAL: Let me tell you something. You keep this. Give it alltomorrow.

BRIG. SEHGAL:There are some principles in life.
TEHELKA: Haan, haan.

BRIG. SEHGAL: Whatever it contains that will increase later…meanwhile,I will tell you the items, the country of origin. When your talks progress, Iwill tell you where the country of origin is, it's on my fingertips.

BRIG. SEHGAL: I will tell you the name of the vice-chiefs, there are twovice-chiefs.
TEHELKA: Okay. Name will be told, name - question mark. Okay, sir.

BRIG. SEHGAL: Just write a letter to the Vice-Chief, MGO…that "weunderstand there is the requirement of hand-held HHTs." Our rate…keep ourrate a bit low.
TEHELKA: All right, sir.

BRIG. SEHGAL: And send one to DGOS also.
TEHELKA: DG…

BRIG. SEHGAL: …OS.

BRIG. SEHGAL: I will take it from him today. Before that clear my dues. Ihave told the story…behan chod…that they are going for the TOT - transfer oftechnology. And as you had said, that you are ready to hand over the TOT. Wewould like to negotiate with you and we are ready to hand over the TOT. Behanchod, put that in also.
TEHELKA: All right, sir.

BRIG. SEHGAL: Even if TOT is a question mark, you at least ask becausethat man has to decide.
TEHELKA: Yeah, I can't decide.

BRIG. SEHGAL:Yeah, you can't decide. That's why I said, put a question mark.

BRIG. SEHGAL: See, the guy will think twice before signing…. Behanchod, see I have a counter offer and all these fuckers know about it. EitherI give money behan chod to all of them. Include all. This mader chod is the wayhere. Not everyone gets the money. Whoever does the contract, gets it. You don'thave to give.

BRIG. SEHGAL:So when you have initiated this to every fucker…
TEHELKA: From these five, either all of them will call, then all of themwill ask.

BRIG. SEHGAL: All of them won't ask. I will tell you who will call, butwhen the next fucker knows that if I go in for this, when the contract has gonethrough, then behan chod…when a contract has gone through…why have you notgone through this? There is already a letter from so-and-so.
TEHELKA: Sir, that will kill the others' chances and he would straightcome to me.

BRIG. SEHGAL: Then he will say why are you going for this? In view of theletter, why are you going for this?
TEHELKA: Sir, you go for this. And that is our company. The minute it isour company, we have got the thing. And then he will ask for his…his 10 percent.

TEHELKA: So, it will go up to Lt. General.
BRIG. SEHGAL: Yaar, that goes on the powers of Brigadier Singh. May haveto go to RM [Raksha Mantri] also.

TEHELKA: Who is RM?
TEHELKA: RM.

BRIG. SEHGAL: Raksha Mantri. It will go to Fernandes sahibalso.
SASHI: He also…

BRIG. SEHGAL: That behen chod is so money-hungry that one can just go onabout it.

[Sehgal gets up to make another drink]

BRIG. SEHGAL (continuing): All these politicians are chutiyas.They are all different behind your backs.
TEHELKA: Sir, before this, for groundwork sake, can't we meet the sahibs?

BRIG. SEHGAL: Listen to me, why I am telling you do this, because that isreaching the financial stage.
TEHELKA: Okay.

TEHELKA: So we'll have to pay there also. If we meet five, we have to paythem all. We have no idea whether they will or won't do the job.

BRIG. SEHGAL: What I am telling you…
TEHELKA: It will be singled down to one person.

BRIG. SEHGAL: And, thereafter, I will tell you who the bastard is. Idon't want to teach all the tricks because it has reached such a stage. Send aletter to the Raksha Mantri also. Address it to the Raksha Mantriand give a CC to everybody, behan chod.

TEHELKA: RM first? Sir, then how he will collect the money?
BRIG. SEHGAL: Behan chod, there are numerous channels for him.

TEHELKA: Those people themselves will contact us.
BRIG. SEHGAL: They will come on their own, they will contact on theirown. All that you have to ensure, that it can function upto minus 40 degrees.

TEHELKA: 34, not 40 degrees.
BRIG. SEHGAL: If you make it minus 40 degrees, then nothing like it.Between 40 and 50. Because basically, what, where we want it is the Siachen.There it is between [minus] 40 and 50.

{While Senior Section Officer Sashi Menon had earlier given ussome related documents regarding hand-held thermal cameras on various otheroccasions, he plied us with more of the same. Also, because we intended toexpand our product range, the range of confidential documents that he suppliedus varied from requirements of ammunition to II tubes to clothing and evenhelicopters. Here's a brief sampling of one such transaction.}

TEHELKA: Now you have to find a way out of this…. What are yougiving me today? You are giving me something just now?
SASHI: I can take out that other directory, you know…binoculars andspecifications and catalogue and colour this thing…resolution.

TEHELKA: You have not brought anything now?
SASHI: That guy is doing like that…I told him I'll return it. There arehis notes in it also. The note that the DG…the General has written.

SASHI: Process. And what has our General written? "Why we shouldprocess?" Something like that. It is still kept there. I want to replaceit. I told the boss, and he asked me, "If he will replace it, but will hedo it so soon? All right, as you wish. If you want to take it, you take it. Ifsomething comes out of it, good…"

TEHELKA: Achha, there are some scales too.
TEHELKA: That is the quantity?

SASHI: One battalion; 300 quantity. We have 360 battalions. Onebattalion; 36 quantity…36 piece for one battalion. So we have 360 battalion.360 into 3.

BRIG. IQBALSINGH: That is what I'm saying. You must cultivate Choudary. It's a weaponand equipment matter, fine. But it doesn't end there. Now W.E. wants to importsomething, or do whatever it is…it is his branch, MGO's branch…GeneralDhillon's branch which puts a spoke in between.

LT. COL. SAYAL: They just cannot get anything inside India. That isthere.
BRIG. IQBAL SINGH: For example, we have imported some grenades. Okay?There were some range of 400-500 meters that were required to be achieved. Thatis only giving us 300. Now to accept that 300 or not to accept that 300…it isthe…General Dhillon who plays the part.

TEHELKA:Sir, this…Gen. Dhillon, we can approach him?
BRIG. IQBAL SINGH: That one can organise it. No problem.
LT. COL. SAYAL: We will organize it.

BRIG. IQBAL SINGH: See, there is no single agency who is an authority ofimporting anything and whatever they want. That you must appreciate.
TEHELKA: Yeah, exactly.

BRIG. IQBAL SINGH: If there are 10 agencies involved, everybody plays hisrole.
LT. COL. SAYAL: See…problem…the point is the file moves like this [gestureswith his hand in regular forward intervals]. There are linkages.

BRIG. IQBAL SINGH: For the entire Indian Army, whosoever may be theimporter, I am the person who is paying the money.
TEHELKA: Okay.

BRIG. IQBAL SINGH: Whether it is Choudary or it is bloody DGPO or anybodyelse…

{HereBrigadier Iqbal Singh takes his little gift from West End}

LT. COL.SAYAL: All that's fine, now whatever you have heard from Sir, you have toreact to that. [to Brigadier Iqbal Singh] He's brought a small gift for you.

BRIG.IQBAL SINGH(reacting to TEHELKA offering him money): What for, yaar?

LT. COL. SAYAL: Please, please.

BRIG. IQBAL SINGH: First let your job be done.
LT. COL. SAYAL: No, no.

TEHELKA: No sir, this is just a gift...small gift.