The Defence Ministry has debarred two Indian and four foreign firms for 10 years from all business dealings due to their involvement in irregularities in the recent past.

The debarred foreign companies are from Singapore, Israel, Switzerland and Russia. The two Indian companies are located in New Delhi and Ludhiana.

The CBI has filed a chargesheet against an Ex-Director General of Ordinance Factories for receiving illegal gratification from these firms. The case is sub-judice in the CBI Special Court in Kolkata.

Giving this information in the Lok Sabha today, Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju said departmental proceedings had also been initiated against the official for his misdemeanour.

In reply to another question, the Minister said Defence procurement was continuing through alternative indigenous and foreign sources.