Retd vice-admiral backs ‘leak’ claims made by Manohar Parrikar

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar, who on Friday said that the Scorpene data leak is “not big worry”, has experts on his side.

According to vice-admiral Arun Kumar Singh (Retd.), “Vital data has not been leaked. What’s been leaked are generic details and not the operational and tactical procedures. Our submarine has so far not done the noise ranging trials. Hence the damage is not severe.”

A top government source told this newspaper that besides the weapons systems for the Scorpene submarines which had been contracted with another co-mpany, the leak of frequencies is also not of much concern because the actual frequencies and other vital parameters are yet to be finalised as the first submarine, INS Kalveri, is yet to complete the sea trials.

“Frequencies are finalised only after sea trials and just before being inducted into the Navy. So we are yet to integrate them. Moreover, the documents leaked are from 2011. Every parameter undergoes change with passing time and we have moved ahead by at least four years from the time of those documents,” the source said.

While the Australian had reported that the data had passed through the hands of two Asian countries and at least one corporate entity, the source admitted that the Indian government had no knowledge of it.

On Tuesday, the Indian security establishment was rocked by one of the biggest defence scandals when the Australian released 22,484 pages of sensitive data on the Scorpene submarines being built for India.

The Indian Navy has taken up Scorpene document leak matter with French directorate general of armament and French shipbuilder DCNS which is 64 per cent state-owned.

The six Scorpene class submarine project is a joint collaboration between sta-te-owned Mazagaon Dock Ship Builders and DCNS.

Refusing comment on the developments, Marion Bonnet, spokesperson, DCNS told this newspaper: “We can only say that as for DCNS, it has filed a criminal complaint against unknown persons on the grounds of breach of trust before the Paris Public prosecutor.”

On Thursday, a French official was quoted as saying: “It is not a leak, it is theft We have not found any DCNS negligence, but we have identified some dishonesty by an individual.”

Asked if the contract will be looked into now for contractual obligations and proper information, Mr Parrikar said: “That we have asked and are waiting for a reply from them. Let the reply come.”