London, June 14: A leading British daily today claimed that India is one of three countries identified by it where there are allegations of corruption involving BAE Systems, the government-sponsored arms firm. "The new allegations are in India, where BAE is currently renewing efforts to sell the Hawk fighter/trainer; Qatar, where a relative of the ruler was paid 7 million pounds and South Africa, where the then defence minister is alleged to have been bribed, also to buy Hawks," said the report. Roger Berry, the Labour chairman of the Commons Quadripartite Committee that examines the arms trade, told the daily that he was writing to the government demanding answers. "These are extremely important issues which Parliament should investigate," he said. He said companies could be made to declare that they will not bribe to get an export licence.
The report also refers to the undercover investigation into defence deals by Tehelka.com. Bureau Report