DRDO Helicopter Theft: DRDO-Made 'Chinook' Worth Rs 45 Lakh Displayed at Defence Expo 2020 'Missing'

Kanpur, May 18: The helicopter model displayed by the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) during the 2020 Defense Expo in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow has been reported stolen. The perpetrators remain unidentified, and crucial details about the theft, including the location and timing, remain elusive.

According to the ABPLive report, the replica Chinook helicopter, constructed from scrap materials, became a popular attraction during the expo. Visitors flocked to take selfies with the life-sized model, which continued to stand even after the event. Subsequently, the Municipal Corporation was responsible for its maintenance. DRDO Conducts Successful Flight Test of Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile off Odisha Coast (Watch Video).

DRDO Helicopter Theft

However, last year, in 2023, the helicopter mysteriously vanished. The grounds where it stood were later chosen for the G20 Summit in Lucknow. The Municipal Corporation removed the model, citing concerns about its structural integrity and VIP movement in the area. Yet, the fate of the helicopter remained shrouded in mystery. Bulletproof Jacket: DRDO Develops Lightest Bulletproof Jacket for Protection Against Highest Threat Level.

According to the report, a complaint was lodged with Kalyan Banerjee, Joint Secretary of the Urban Development Department, in April 2023. In response, the Municipal Corporation claimed that the helicopter had been sent for repairs to their "Rubbish and Removable" workshop in Gomti Nagar. Curiously, there is no record of the helicopter's presence in the workshop, raising further questions about its disappearance. The police are now investigating this audacious theft, which has baffled citizens and officials alike.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 18, 2024 09:38 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).