HAL files FIR against supplier over alleged fake reports in Tejas Mk1A project

HAL has filed a complaint against TEC Aero Devices over 199 allegedly forged test reports linked to Tejas Mk1A components. The case follows an audit, a three-year debarment and HAL's decision to seek criminal action.

In Short

• HAL issued 18 purchase orders to the Hyderabad firm from March 2022
• TEC Aero Devices was cleared to make 35 categories of parts
• Quality checks sought original tensile, hardness, shear and microstructure test records

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has filed a complaint against Hyderabad-based TEC Aero Devices for allegedly submitting 199 forged test reports for components supplied for India’s indigenous Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft programme.

According to the complaint, HAL’s Aircraft Division in Bengaluru issued 18 purchase orders to TEC Aero Devices from March 2022 onwards for the supply of various components for the Tejas Mk1A programme.

The company was approved to manufacture 35 categories of parts after submitting samples, test reports, and related documents.

During quality verification, HAL sought original reports related to tensile strength, hardness, break load, shear, NDT, microstructure, and salt spray tests.

The company allegedly failed to furnish the original reports and later submitted an apology letter admitting that incorrect reports had been provided in the name of Hyderabad-based Axis Inspection Solutions.

An audit conducted by HAL at Axis Inspection Solutions on November 29, 2023, reportedly found that none of the 199 test reports submitted by TEC Aero Devices had been issued by the testing agency.

HAL alleged that all 199 reports submitted between February and September 2023 were forged.

Axis Inspection Solutions informed HAL that its name and signatures had been misused to generate fake reports.

Following the findings, HAL debarred TEC Aero Devices from doing business with the company for three years, until March 10, 2027. HAL stated that no payments had been released to the supplier.

After internal deliberations, HAL decided to initiate criminal proceedings and has now sought legal action against TEC Aero Devices for allegedly submitting forged documents linked to the Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft programme.

- Ends