India's former admiral admits to an affair with a Russian woman, leading New Delhi to pay an extra $1.356 billion!
Both Indian and Russian media have reported a scandal shaking the Indian military: Rear Admiral Sukhjinder Singh, who was in charge of the Russian-made aircraft carrier project between 2005 and 2007, had an inappropriate relationship with a Russian woman. During this period, the repair costs for the "Admiral Gorshkov" aircraft carrier skyrocketed from $974 million to $2.33 billion. Subsequently, a CD containing intimate photos of the two individuals was sent to the Indian Navy headquarters, prompting a secret investigation.
In 2004, India signed a deal with Russia to purchase the retired "Admiral Gorshkov" aircraft carrier. The initial Russian quote ranged from about $800 million to $974 million, which India considered a major bargain. According to the original plan, the carrier was supposed to be delivered to the Indian Navy by 2008.
However, as construction began, the Russians repeatedly demanded price increases, citing workloads exceeding expectations. The cost climbed from $900 million all the way up to $2.9 billion—so much that the refurbishment expenses for the second-hand carrier even surpassed the cost of building a brand-new one. Although India has long struggled with cost control in defense projects, such an extraordinary escalation led senior military officials to suspect there must have been a "leak" within.
Between 2005 and 2007, married Rear Admiral Singh was dispatched to Severodvinsk, Russia, serving as head of the Indian observation team, responsible for overseeing the repair and modification of the "Admiral Gorshkov" aircraft carrier and participating in price negotiations with Russian counterparts. It was during the time he had full authority over the project that the carrier’s price surged from $974 million to $2.33 billion.
Last month, a CD containing intimate photographs of Singh and a Russian woman was sent to the Indian Navy headquarters, triggering the investigation. The Indian military subsequently launched an inquiry into Singh and discovered that the photos were likely taken between 2005 and 2007—the exact period when Singh was stationed in Russia and fully in charge of the aircraft carrier project.
When questioned by the investigation committee, Singh admitted to the extramarital affair, describing it as a “momentary lapse” and a “personal recklessness.” However, he insisted these photos had no influence on the aircraft carrier pricing negotiations. Nevertheless, citing reports from *The Times of India*, Russian media noted that the investigation revealed Singh fell deeply in love with the Russian woman precisely at the moment he held full responsibility for negotiating with Russia.
The Indian military suspects the Russian woman involved may have been an intelligence operative working for Russian agencies, and that Singh might have fallen victim to a classic “femme fatale” trap. Military analysts believe she could have used their intimate relationship to obtain India’s negotiation bottom line on the carrier’s price, enabling Russia to demand exorbitant price hikes without restraint.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867117272918218/
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