Several days after booking him under the Official Secrets Act and seizing his computer, the Central Bureau of Investigation told a Delhi court that it’s yet to read Major General (retired) V K Singh’s book, India’s External Intelligence: Secrets of the Research and Analysis Wing. The book that deals with the period Singh was with RAW details instances of alleged corruption in procurement and is critical of the way the agency functioned.

While the CBI has sought more time from the court to ascertain the nature of information leaked by Singh, here are some of the key cases that Singh has highlighted. From alleged violations in procurement to wasting money on an emblem that was never used, these examples, Singh writes, underline the need for accountability in the agency.

Purchase of VHF/UHF antenna

Singh refers to an order in 2002 with a German firm for 27 antennae covering frequencies from 30-3,000 MHz. These were at a price of Rs 15.5 lakh apiece when approvals were for prices ranging from Rs 2.5-Rs 5.5 lakh. Singh claims companies were selling similar equipment in the open market for less than Rs 15,000.

Singh writes he recommended a re-tender and inclusion of an Indian company that had promised to supply the same equipment at one-tenth of the price sought by the foreign company. In August 2003, the foreign firm threatened legal action. The recommendation for a re-tender was not accepted. The agency scaled down its requirement from 27 to nine antennae but the company protested.

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