Former Ordnance Factory DGM Booked by CBI for Favouring Private Firm in Tender Process

The official allegedly established a proprietorship firm and manipulated tender rules to benefit his own entity.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a case against Deepak Lamba, former Deputy General Manager of Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (OFAJ) in Nagpur, for allegedly influencing tender procedures to benefit a private firm, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The investigation also names Automation Engineering and Industrial Services, a Nagpur-based company, and its owner Mohit Tholia as part of the case. As part of its probe, the agency conducted searches at four locations, including the residences of the accused individuals.

According to the CBI, while serving as Deputy GM at OFAJ, Lamba reportedly set up a proprietorship firm and manipulated tender conditions to favour this company. The tenders, it is alleged, were awarded on the basis of forged or fabricated experience certificates submitted by the firm.

“It is further alleged that the former Deputy General Manager carried out multiple financial and banking transactions in connection with the private firm, utilizing both his personal accounts and those of his family members,” stated a CBI spokesperson.

This development adds to a series of corruption cases involving India’s Ordnance Factories. In a related incident, the CBI recently arrested an Additional General Manager of Ordnance Factory Ambernath for allegedly soliciting and accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 from a contractor in exchange for clearing bills. The official was apprehended during the act, and subsequent searches yielded incriminating documents and evidence of property investments.

Going further back, in 2014, the CBI uncovered irregularities in the tender process at Ordnance Factory Medak, which allegedly resulted in a government loss of ₹78 lakh. Several former officials and private contractors were booked for conspiring to inflict financial damage.

These latest actions reflect the CBI’s sustained efforts to clamp down on corruption within defence-related institutions, particularly targeting irregularities in the Ordnance Factory Board system.