BDL’s Rs 56.8-crore single-bid tender puts former CMD Siddharth Mishra-linked company under lens

New Delhi: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), the defence PSU that manufactures anti-tank guided missiles, has invited a single bid from Aindri Defence Advisory for the supply of 300 optical sights, with the company quoting Rs 56.8 crore. The procurement has raised questions about transparency and potential conflicts of interest because Aindri was established by former BDL Chairman and Managing Director Siddharth Mishra and his wife.

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The tender marks a departure from procurement exercises in the previous two years, when similar purchases were made through competitive processes involving public-sector firms. India Optel Limited won both rounds in 2024 and 2025. This year, BDL invited only Aindri to bid. The company has cleared the technical evaluation stage, while its financial bid remains under assessment.

The company's ownership and operational details have added to the scrutiny. Mishra's wife, Shambhavi Mishra, holds a 95 percent stake in Aindri. Company records cited by The Indian Express show that the firm had no property, manufacturing plant or other assets listed in its available balance sheet. The newspaper also found the company's listed Hyderabad office locked during an on-site visit. These findings raise questions about the supplier's capacity to fulfil the requirement, but do not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing.

BDL cited urgency as the reason for adopting the single-tender route, which did not involve competitive bidding. However, according to the published reporting, the justification for the urgency and the decision not to pursue competition remains unclear. The proposed supply also requires technical support for maintenance, repair and overhaul for at least 15 years, making the supplier's long-term technical capability an important consideration.

BDL, Mishra and his wife did not respond to The Indian Express's requests for comment, according to the report. The central issue is therefore not merely the former CMD's family connection with the supplier, but whether the procurement route, urgency and supplier capability were adequately justified and independently scrutinised.

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With the financial evaluation still underway, the procurement process warrants closer scrutiny. However, the reported circumstances should not be treated as proof of fraud or a confirmed violation of procurement rules without further evidence.

(PSU Watch is India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy. 👉 Click to join our channel now: PSUWatch WhatsApp Channel. Prefer LinkedIn? Follow PSU Watch on LinkedIN. Click to stay connected on Twitter here and stay updated.)