Remembering Baldy

Late Sqn Ldr (Retd) Baldev Singh

HAL in a fix as PESB hunts for 'jinxed' director's post again

A part of the advertisement called by PESB recently. This was taken from the PESB website.

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is in a fix over the 'jinxed' post of its Director Corporate Planning and Marketing, which fell vacant in October 2011. The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), mandated with the job of short-listing directors, is making a second attempt to find a suitable man for this crucial post. The PESB had earlier shortlisted a senior HAL official for the post, only to be informed later that the man was on the radar of the vigilance wing.
A circular issued by Vedantam Giri, PESB's director, Department of Personnel and Training, had set April 22, 2013, as the last date for aspirants to apply. “Advance action may be taken to keep the Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for last five years, of those candidates ready along with their latest vigilance profile (penality imposed and details of disciplinary actions, if any) to be furnished as an when the selection meeting is scheduled,” says the circular.
The marketing head's post, currently given as an additional charge to another director, was last occupied by Sqn Ldr (Retd) Baldev Singh, who was found hanging from a tree on the way to Nandi Hills, a popular tourist spot near Bangalore. Subsequent police investigations concluded that Baldy, as he was popularly called, committed suicide. An ace Test pilot, Baldy was spearheading the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) project in HAL, until he was selected for the director's post. HAL has kept the IJT project under wraps since then with no details being given out to the media or on its public domains.
“Under the restructuring plans of HAL, following the recommendations made by the Chaturvedi Committee, the total number of directors are likely to be trimmed, and some key posts merged. Even the helicopter complex is without a director now and the charge has been given to another man. All these will affect the overall production performance of the company in the long run. These are government decisions and we have to abide by it,” a planning department officer said.
NO COMMENTS: Interestingly, a set of five questions emailed to HAL's head R K Tyagi's office seeking reasons for the inordinate delay in appointing a new man as marketing director, evoked no response. HAL's PRO Gopal S told Express over the phone that the company does not wish to respond. When quizzed about the reasons for not giving HAL's version officially, the PRO had no answers. Insiders say that to avoid further controversies, an absolute media gag is in place, now.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Police ready to reopen case | Baldy’s friends want external probe | PESB shortlists Baldy successor

Late Sqn Ldr (Retd) Baldev Singh

By Anantha Krishnan M 
Express News Service

Bangalore: The Chikkaballapur Police, which investigated into the suicide case of Sqn Ldr (Retd) Baldev Singh, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd's (HAL) then Director Corporate Planning and Marketing (DCP&M) , says that they are willing to hand over the probe to a bigger agency or to the Bangalore Police, if the situation so warrants.
“A complaint from any Indian citizen (in person), citing reasons that they suspect a foul play is all that we need to re-open the case. We are willing to hand over the probe to any agency, if our seniors demand so,” Iyyanna Reddy, Investigation Officer and Sub-Inspector, Chikkaballapur Rural police station, tells Express Investigation Team (EIT). Reddy's team had already closed the case after studying the final postmortem report and forensic lab test results. Reddy told the EIT that they haven’t questioned any senior officials of HAL yet, for want of a complaint.
While HAL so far managed to perform a perfect cover-job by sticking to their 'no internal probe mode,' HAL’s new head R K Tyagi's decision to back the safe-stand (Express report dated March 14), has surprised many, including some of his own peers. “A proper probe by HAL would have got the confidence-level back among the work force. Sighting to a routine police probe, which definitely did not get into the depths of the case, is a very diplomatic way of sidelining the matter. Tyagi would have won many hearts by standing up firmly, but he too seems to have surrendered to HAL’s systems quickly,” sources said.
Baldy's friends now want a probe by an external agency as they aren't sure of the fairness at which an internal team would probe the case. "Most at the top management know the probably reasons that prompted Baldy to resort to this extreme step. None of the top management officials have been questioned by the police so far. An external agency can bring out the truth," sources said.
On the other hand, the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has shortlisted a successor to Baldy on March 12. Anantha Agasthya, ED, HAL Management Academy, surpassed eight internal and five external candidates to become the likely D(CP&M). The PESB announcement came exactly five months after Baldy's death (October 12, 2011). Agasthya’s selection will have to be okayed by a series of Central agencies, before he could succeed Baldy, officially.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

HAL sticks to its guns; Tyagi rules out internal probe into Baldy suicide

Late Sqn Ldr (Retd) Baldev Singh

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express Investigation Team

Bangalore: Five months after Sqn Ldr (Retd) Baldev Singh, one of India's top-rated Test pilots committed suicide near Nandi Hills, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) seems to be in no mood to order an internal probe. This after wide-spread speculation that HAL's newly-crowned chief R K Tyagi might set the record straight by ordering a probe to erase the doubts among the employees.

The breaking news jettisoning out of HAL's hangars now is that neither Tyagi nor his team want an internal probe into the suicide of Baldy, who was the company's Director, Corporate Planning and Marketing (DCP&M). HAL had earlier communicated to Express that they are convinced with the police investigation, which is now closed.

Reacting to an Express email sent to Tyagi with seven direct questions related to Baldy's death, HAL responded with absolute conviction that the matter is closed and no probe, come what may. “First and foremost, we are saddened by the untimely demise of Baldy. As regards to your query whether HAL ought to have conducted an independent probe into the death, we would like to state that since the police were conducting an investigation into the issue, it was decided not to have a parallel inquiry. We don’t wish to go for another probe into the matter,” an email response from V M Chamola, Director (HR), HAL, said.

Badly's close buddies and a section of insiders who are still fuming over HAL's 'no-probe-stand' fear disciplinary actions, if they make a representation seeking a probe. Express Investigation Team (EIT) is being informed that the police did receive an anonymous letter soon after Baldy's death, but couldn't act as it contained only allegations, lacking 'verifiable facts.' (To be contd)

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Baldy died due to asphyxiation caused by hanging: Post-mortem report | Case officially closed, but can be re-opened if need be: Police

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: Sqn Ldr (retd.) Baldev Singh (Baldy), former director Corporate Planning-Marketing, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), has committed suicide; conclude the police, ruling out any foul play. The Chikballapur police in Karanataka, who investigated the death of Baldy, one of Indian’s finest Test pilots, have now closed the case after getting the final post-mortem report. This is in tune with what the police and the doctor had told an Express Investigation Team in November 2011. Baldy’s body was found hanging from a tree at an isolated spot near Nandi Hills on October 11.
Dr B V Diwakar, senior specialist with Chikballapur District Hospital, who conducted the post-mortem had kept his final opinion pending, for want of Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) sample results. “We have got the report of the chemical samples which were sent to FSL on November 4. It is now a clear-cut case of suicide by hanging. No poison was found during the FSL tests,” Dr Diwakar told Expess.
A 10-member police team headed by B Iyyanna Reddy, Investigating Officer and Sub-Inspector, Chikballapur Rural police station, were handling this sensational case. “It is now officially closed from our end. We have informed the Taluk Executive Magistrate by filing the B-Final Report. His death is caused by asphyxiation due to hanging,” Iyyanna Reddy said.
When asked about the chances of the case being re-opened, considering that neither the police nor HAL went behind the reason for Baldy to take such an extreme step, Reddy said: “If someone comes forward and says that it needs to be re-opened from a suspicious angle, then we will be willing to investigate from a different angle.”
An official with the Defence Production Department of Ministry of Defence, told Express on Sunday that the incident will remain as a sad page in the history of HAL for ever.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Bangalore defence journalists pay tributes to Baldy

R.I.P. Baldy.

The members of the Forum of Defence and Aerospace Journalists, Bangalore (FDAJB) paid their tributes to Sqn Ldr. (Retd) Baldev Singh on Sunday. In the condolence meet held at the Press Club of Bangalore, the Forum recalled the contributions of Baldy to military aviation. The members also shared their experiences in interacting with Baldy over the years. The Forum also decided to seek the opinion of all its members, Baldy's close friends and family, on whether to launch a campaign demanding higher probe into his death. A final decision will be taken this week. (Photo Rahul Devnath)