Published Jun 12, 2026 | 2:02 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 12, 2026 | 2:31 PM
HAL Tejas.
Synopsis: Karnataka Police have registered a case against Hyderabad-based Tec Aero Devices and its CEO, M Sivarama Prasad, for allegedly submitting forged test reports in connection with supplies for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Tejas fighter aircraft programme. HAL said an audit found that all 199 test reports submitted by the company were forged and falsely carried the name and signatures of Axis Inspection Solutions. Following HAL’s decision to debar the company, Tec Aero Devices subsequently rebranded itself.
The Karnataka Police have booked Hyderabad-based Tec Aero Devices and its CEO, M Sivarama Prasad, for allegedly submitting forged test reports in connection with supplies meant for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) LCA Mk-1A (Tejas) fighter aircraft programme.
The FIR was registered on 2 June at the HAL Police Station in Bengaluru under Sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery) and 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) of the IPC, based on a complaint filed by Ranu Gupta, Deputy General Manager, HAL Aircraft Division, Bengaluru.
According to the complaint, Tech Aero Devices, located at Shakthipuram, Prashanthi Nagar, Kukatpally, was issued 18 purchase orders from 28 March 2022 for the supply of various parts related to the LCA-83 Mk-1A project.
After submitting samples, test reports and other required documents, the company obtained approval certificates from HAL for the manufacture of 172 items across 35 categories of parts.
HAL stated that, under the terms of the purchase orders, the supplier was required to furnish original test reports for bulk supplies. Tec Aero Devices subsequently submitted 199 test reports.
However, the aircraft manufacturer said it subsequently found that none of the test reports were authentic and that Tec Aero Devices had forged them while misusing the name of Axis Inspection Solutions.
HAL subsequently removed the company from its list of approved suppliers and debarred it from doing business with the organisation for three years, until 10 March 2027.
The company later rebranded itself as TAD Aerospace Fasteners Private Limited. The new name was registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in January 2024, around the same time HAL imposed the three-year debarment.
Neither the company nor its CEO, M Sivarama Prasad, responded to queries from South First.
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The complaint said that during quality verification, HAL’s Quality Control Department sought original certifications and test reports relating to tensile, hardness, brake load, shear, non-destructive testing (NDT), microstructure and salt spray tests, among others. However, Tec Aero Devices allegedly failed to produce the original documents despite repeated requests.
According to the FIR, representatives of Tec Aero Devices visited HAL and, on 22 November 2023, submitted a letter of apology in which they admitted to having submitted two incorrect reports in the name of Hyderabad-based Axis Inspection Solutions.
HAL subsequently conducted an audit at Axis Inspection Solutions on 29 November 2023. The audit reportedly found that none of the 199 test reports submitted by Tec Aero Devices had been issued by the company and that every single report appeared to be forged.
In a letter dated 29 November 2023, Axis Inspection Solutions informed HAL that Tec Aero Devices had deliberately misused its name and signatures and submitted forged reports.
The complaint noted that HAL had not made any financial payments to Tec Aero Devices up to that point.
Following the findings, HAL issued a show-cause notice to the supplier. In response, Tec Aero Devices, through a letter dated 20 December 2023, requested that its mistake be excused.
The complaint stated that HAL later held a series of internal meetings and eventually decided to initiate criminal proceedings against the company. It added that these internal processes resulted in a delay in lodging the police complaint.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
