CAG claims UPA violated norms in purchase of Boeing P-8I aircraft

Report says defence ministry evaluated bid of Spanish company, EADS CASA, with product support costs added to cost of aircraft; but evaluated Boeing's bid without product support costs loaded on

The Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) tabled a report in Parliament on Tuesday that says the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government violated procedure in buying eight P-8I Poseidon Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMR-ASW) aircraft from US giant, Boeing, in 2009.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, which is facing an Opposition onslaught for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighters in 2016, now has ammunition to fire back.

The CAG report says the defence ministry “enhanced the financial bid of M/s EADS CASA, Spain to cater for 20 years product support cost while ignoring this element in respect of