It is the second major crisis that has hit the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) this year. Its chief Avinash Chander was removed on January 13 with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar making it clear that the decision was taken to make way for a younger man to head the organisation.
Gupta has alleged that he was singled out by two senior officials within the organisation, including Chander, who demitted his office on January 31. The incident came just days after the successful launch of the canister version of the Angi-V on January 31.
Gupta has complained to the Ministry that he received the removal letter, dated January 9, on February 2 when he reached office after the Agni-V launch.
Gupta’s complaint is addressed to Defence Secretary RK Mathur, who is currently holding additional charge of the DRDO after Chander was removed. The letter says: “I wish to bring to your notice that on February 2, I was relinquished from the post of project director Agni-V. I am shocked that... such bad treatment is meted out to such a senior scientist with an excellent track record throughout service.”
Gupta's name had come up in connection with the sudden termination of Chander's contract by the government, 15 months ahead of his tenure. It was then rumoured that one of the reasons for Chander's removal was three complaints filed by individuals, including Gupta, who has denied having lodged any such complaint against Chander. DRDO sources insisted that such transfers were routine.
“The Agni-V is no longer in development phase. It is in production and induction phase and hence transfers are routine since the services of an officer can be used somewhere else,” said sources.
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