Mystery still shrouds the association between the director general of DRDO V.K. Saraswat, and the CR Rao Advanced Institute of Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science (AIMSCS) at University of Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad. It was in his capacity as DG DRDO, that he has been accused of giving an aid grant of Rs 2.88 crore to CR Rao AIMSCS, headed by none other than Dr Saraswat himself, as per an internal audit report prepared by senior Additional Controller General of Defence Account.
The audit report has also recorded its reservations over yet another grant of Rs 3 crore to one Dr S.B. Rao from the same institute for research on radars. The grant-in-aid was sanctioned for research of futuristic radar systems with cutting edge technology. DRDO officials, pleading anonymity, are countering charges of sub-letting the job of conducting research into ultra-modern radars to this private institute with reasons like “focus on indigenous and cost-effective development”.
Officials close to Dr Saraswat claimed that contrary to the impression given, the institute deals with applied mathematics, statistics and computer science. This involves complex radar, missile launch systems used for a variety of tasks including interception of signals. “This institute has been a pioneer in developing cutting-edge technology for the kind of radars we are looking for, which are not available with even advanced countries working in this area,” said an official. He refuted the audit report claims that the institute has neither scientists excelling in futuristic radars nor the required infrastructure for carrying out such R&D activities and that all this is being carried out by DRDO’s Bengaluru-based Electronics and Radar Development Establishment.
Dr Allam Appa Rao, director of AIMSCS, while speaking to Deccan Chronicle, said that he has not met Dr Saraswat,who is also the secretary of Department of Defence Research and Development, for almost three months. “His is purely an honorary position and he’s not involved in any financial or other decisions. Nor does he get any salary from the institute,” he said.