India bans Rheinmetall from defense deals NEW DELHI, March 23 (UPI) -- Swiss company Rheinmetall Air Defense is protesting an Indian Defense Ministry decision to ban the company from Ordnance Factory Board contracts for a decade. The Swiss defense firm has protested the decision to ban it from OFB contracts for the next 10 years. "Rheinmetall Air Defense AG of Switzerland objects to the decision of the Indian Ministry of Defense announced March 5 to exclude it from doing business with India's Ordnance Factory Board," a company news release stated. This decision was based on allegations against RAD, which the company categorically rejects as false and entirely without merit. The Indian authorities have yet to inform RAD of the details of these allegations. The company said "transparency" regarding the investigations would allow RAD a chance to "put forward conclusive evidence that will refute all claims made against it." RAD said it would cooperate with the Indian government in any such investigations. Four other companies were hit with similar bans as a result of investigations into the activities of former OFB Director General Sudipto Ghosh.