The First Defence Scam of India
Revisits the Jeep scandal of 1948—India's first major defence procurement controversy. Unpacks how ideology and negligence intersected in the formative years of Indian military policy.
The Scandal
This multimedia project examines lesser-known origins of defence procurement corruption in post-independence India, centering on the 1948 Jeep scandal involving Krishna Menon. The narrative explores connections between early post-colonial administrative choices and systemic military procurement issues.
The Investigation
The investigation focuses on Menon’s controversial order of over 2,000 army jeeps from a British firm, with significant advance payments and minimal delivery. Research incorporated parliamentary debates, declassified correspondence, and secondary historical sources detailing Menon’s political associations and Soviet connections, including materials from former KGB archivist Vasili Mitrokhin.
Production Approach
The production maintained a compact format introducing broader ideological tensions shaping India’s early defence strategies. Editing employed chronological pacing with animated maps, archival photography, and visual text inserts to communicate the scandal accessibly.
I handled scripting, editing, voice direction, and motion design internally, aiming to provide a concise historical examination tracing institutional defence mismanagement patterns from one of India’s earliest and most influential figures.