Published 17:36 IST, May 4th 2019
3 Companies, 3 Directors in common — one link to French sumbmarine-maker. Was loss-making company taken over by Offset partner to benefit Rahul’s partner Ulrik?
Following sensational newsbreaks regarding Congress president Rahul Gandhi's link to the UPA-era Scorpene submarine deal via his UK company business partner Ulrik McKnight, Republic Media Network has accessed even more documents on the web of companies which were merged with Flash Forge India Private Ltd, the offset partner of French company DCNS which bagged the defence deal
Following sensational newsbreaks regarding Congress president Rahul Gandhi's link to the UPA-era Scorpene submarine deal via his UK company business partner Ulrik McKnight, Republic Media Network has accessed even more documents on the web of companies which were merged with Flash Forge India Private Ltd, the offset partner of French company DCNS which bagged the defence deal. All the companies involved are in some way or the other linked to Ulrik McKnight who co-owned Backops Limited with Rahul Gandhi before the UK-based companies dissolution about a decade ago
The documents relating to the companies and their owners add up to raise the question - Why were loss-making plastic manufacturing firms taken over by a defence company for a defence deal?
Two Indian Nationals - Gautam Makkar, Sunil Menon - and Ulrik McKnight were behind the formation of multiple companies involved. Flash Forge Private Limited was incorporated by Makkar and Menon in 1991. This company ended up being the offset partner of submarine maker DCNS via a contract awarded by the UPA 2 government in 2011. Soon after, Flash Forge Pvt Ltd took over a loss-making company where Ulrik McKnight was a director.
Meanwhile, Optimal Armour Limited which manufactures plastic products was incorporated by Makker, Menon and McKnight. Makker and Menon are still directors of the company. This Staffordshire company has total liabilities of £243.94k and less than ten employees, Republic TV has learnt. However, despite the poor balance sheet, the company was taken over by Flash Forge.
Read the document below:
Composite Resin Development Limited, which manufactures plastic products, was incorporated in Kent with once again Gautam Makker, Sunil Menon and Ulrik Mcknight as directors. The company is still active but changed its name from Millennium Valves Limited.
Read the document below:
Ulrik’s total liabilities stand at £39.3k.
Updated 19:18 IST, May 4th 2019