The government on Monday said it was viewing the recent incident of loss and recovery of a secret defence file “seriously” and that an inquiry was on in the matter.
The file of the Indian Air Force — pertaining to the offset provisions of the `42,000-crore MMRCA (fighter aircraft) acquisition process — was in the possession of the MoD
and was lost after that before being recovered shortly thereafter. Although the MoD remained tight-lipped about the details of the matter, speculation is rife that the file was lost by a senior MoD official, who was residing in a guesthouse of a defence PSU in south Delhi’s posh Khel Gaon Marg, and that the file was found on the road by a security guard. The file is said to have been dropped absent-mindedly by the MoD official after he got down from his car, as he was taking it home. Sources said the official was taking the file home as he was asked to prepare a presentation before the MoD.
Sources said the file, when found, was shown to a senior IAF officer who immediately realised its significance and alerted the authorities. Speculation was also rife that the MoD official suspected of losing the file was asked to vacate the guesthouse immediately. The role of another MoD official could also be probed in the matter.
Defence sources said there seemed to be a lapse by an MoD official on account of carelessness and that there did not seem to be any malafide intention.
But what had happened will be revealed in detail in the inquiry report that is expected to be ready in a matter of days, sources said.