#UnfoldingCongressScams
#TheJeepScandal in 1948 was first major corruption case in independent India.V.K. Krishna Menon, the then Indian high commissioner to Britain, ignored protocols and signed a Rs 80 lakh contract for the purchase of army jeeps with a foreign firm.
#TheJeepScandal in 1948 was first major corruption case in independent India.V.K. Krishna Menon, the then Indian high commissioner to Britain, ignored protocols and signed a Rs 80 lakh contract for the purchase of army jeeps with a foreign firm.
What was the Scam??
V. K. Krishna Menon, then the Indian high commissioner to Britain, placed order for 2,000 refurbished jeeps for a cost at which new jeeps could be purchased from the United States or Canada.
While most of the money was paid upfront, just 155 jeeps landed,
V. K. Krishna Menon, then the Indian high commissioner to Britain, placed order for 2,000 refurbished jeeps for a cost at which new jeeps could be purchased from the United States or Canada.
While most of the money was paid upfront, just 155 jeeps landed,
landed,the then PM Nehru forced the government to accept them.Govind Ballabh Pant, the then Home Minister and the then Government of Indian National Congress announced on 30 September 1955 that the Jeep scandal case was closed for judicial inquiry
ignoring suggestion by the Inquiry Committee led by Ananthsayanam Ayyangar.
The little-known Anti-Mistantes, whose capital at the time was only £605, was assigned to deliver the jeeps.Menon agreed to pay $172K, 65% of the total payment up-front without any inspection certificate
The little-known Anti-Mistantes, whose capital at the time was only £605, was assigned to deliver the jeeps.Menon agreed to pay $172K, 65% of the total payment up-front without any inspection certificate
He also agreed that only 10% of the jeeps would be inspected. The earlier contract stipulated that 65% of the payment would be made upon inspection, 20% on delivery and rest a month after delivery. Of the 155 jeeps that arrived, none were re-serviceable.
The defence ministry refused to accept them and Anti-Mistantes stopped delivering more jeeps.
Menon, unable to contact them, entered into an agreement with S.C.K.Agencies 4 1007 jeeps with 68 being delivered monthly and the Indian Govt to be compensated 4 its loss in old contract
Menon, unable to contact them, entered into an agreement with S.C.K.Agencies 4 1007 jeeps with 68 being delivered monthly and the Indian Govt to be compensated 4 its loss in old contract
Each jeep cost £458 while Anti-Mistantes was selling a jeep for £30Menon agreed to change the contract,stipulating 12 jeeps to be delivered monthly for 6 months and later 120 jeeps to be delivered mntly. The firm however supplied only 49 jeeps in 2 yrs and refused to compensate.
Later Krishna Menon became Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's trusted ally and the defence minister.
Mahatma Gandhi's Personal Secretary Mr. U V Kalyanam, in a newspaper interview said, "It is pertinent to mention here that Nehru made corrupt colleagues like Krishna Menon, who was involved in the infamous ‘jeep scam’ while he was the Defence Minister."
