On 27th July, Defence Web reported that Denel remained effectively blacklisted by the Indian MoD, which in February published an updated list of firms debarred/put on hold/suspended from doing business with it. 6 companies were listed as debarred and 14 were listed as put on hold/suspended, including Denel, along with other companies such as Leonardo, AgustaWestland and the Atlas Group. Denel was blacklisted in India in 2005 after allegations that it paid kickbacks to Vara Associates, a company based in the Isle of Man, to help secure five deals between July 1999 and April 2005, to supply the Indian Army with 1 000 anti-material rifles and over 300 000 rounds of ammunition. No irregularities were found during investigations in South Africa, the Isle of Man, Switzerland and the UK.
