French Govt Firefights Blacklist Of Dassault Exec

The French Embassy in Delhi and Dassault Aviation’s office in Paris are working to firefight a nightmarish development (reported in the Times of India today, see previous post) in which Dassault’s face in India, Posina V Rao has reportedly been blacklisted by the Indian Air Force.

I did a little poking around with my sources in the MoD and here’s what’s turned up. Mr Rao raised a formal complaint during or shortly after the Aero India 2011 show with Satyajeet Rajan, joint secretary in charge of exports at the MoD’s department of defence production, the nodal agency overseeing the air show. When the complaint was processed onward to the IAF, a response came back suggesting that the impropriety of the accused IAF officer — Wg Cdr AK Thakur — should have been flagged to IAF authorities at the show, and not to the MoD. Interestingly, the MoD doesn’t appear to have taken any formal view on the Dassault executive, nor is it commenting on the IAF’s decision.

I know Mr Rao professionally and I was in touch with him during Aero India 2011 (where I flew in a Dassault Rafale at the invitation of the French government). I haven’t had a chance to speak with him for his version of events, but sources indicate that he has been asked to lie low while the French government addresses the issue with the IAF and MoD. Sources at Dassault indicate that no formal communication has reached Dassault Aviation regarding the development, though they did not confirm whether the French Embassy had been intimated. Am trying to get more information and will post.

14 thoughts on “French Govt Firefights Blacklist Of Dassault Exec”

  1. Looks like the IAF is being petty about their man being caught. This whole "improper channels" thing is a H&D cover for Rao exposing the IAF's dingdong.

  2. If indeed a formal complaint was registered by Dassault Aviation in writing about the impropriety of the accused IAF officer–Wg Cdr A K Thakur–then as per standard operating procedure it should have been addressed to the Base Commander of Yelahanka AFS with a CC to the IAF HQ's Directorate of personnel. God alone knows why Dassault formally complained to the MoD. But, as they say, shit happens.

  3. Wow… Sounds like IAF had a fit when their corrupt officer was reported to MoD directly.

    But Rao isn´t an IAF officer, so isn´t under orders to follow the ´proper channels´ – He could report it to Sky TV for all he wants to. One would hope that IAF would take such developments in a positive light, and trumpet it as a strike against corruption, rather than retaliate against the person who revealed the matter because they didn´t report it to the ´right´ people (though the corruption was caught).

  4. …and why does this stupid story deserve any air time ? Because you my friend had a joy ride ina Dassault Rafale !

  5. At least they are not blacklisting Dassault.

    Thank God for that!

    Or maybe this is a good thing. In a few years, we would have blacklisted all the firms in the world and then domestic R&D and productin would be the only way out.

  6. isn't it obvious.. the a person wants to get things done and the result must be as he wants before his term ends at the top post… or dual post at the helm… has been paid kick backs amounting to millions… or his life will be ruined… even if it ruins India… who cares…

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