September 18, 2025

The big buzz in Indian defence is about the Dhanush gun — a proud, homegrown artillery piece hailed as the successor of the famous Bofors Howitzers from the 1999 Kargil War. But now, this shining star is shadowed by a scandal! The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is digging into allegations of fake Chinese parts sneaking into these guns, stamped falsely as German-made. The heart of the trouble is the “Wire Race Roller Bearings.” These bearings were supposed to be from CRB, a trusted German company. Instead, a Delhi-based supplier called Sidh Sales Syndicate sent parts made by Sino United Industries in China. Even worse, the quality tests at the Gun Carriage Factory (GCF) in Jabalpur found serious defects, but the parts still got used! The CBI suspects some officials at GCF may have helped this sneaky swap by forging papers and cheating in the supply chain. Ex-Defence Minister Subhash Bhamre confirmed the order was supposed to be for German bearings, but Chinese parts arrived. The Ordnance Factory Board quickly passed the case to the CBI for a full probe. This mess comes right when the army is busy upgrading old Sharang guns from 130mm to a powerful 155mm calibre. These Sharang guns are the bridge until the new big guns—like the Dhanush and ATAGS—are ready. But now, the entire artillery upgrade programme is under a microscope. Adding to the pressure is the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report of 2023, which slammed delays in artillery upgrades. The report warned these delays hurt the army’s readiness and questioned how well India’s defence production and buying systems work. Dhanush was celebrated as a badge of India’s defence independence, crafted by the Ordnance Factory Board with several private partners. But this fake parts scandal has put that pride on the line. Defence experts say this is a wake-up call for the country’s artillery plans — and that the government needs a serious fresh look into its defence manufacturing and supply chains if India wants to shine as an arms exporter in the future. This dramatic episode opens a spicy new chapter in India’s defence saga — where patriotism, trust, and technology collide. The CBI probe is underway, and everyone is watching closely. Will the truth pull the curtain off deeper problems? Only time will tell!

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Tags: Dhanush gun, Cbi investigation, Fake chinese parts, Sharang artillery, Defence scandal, Ordnance factory board,