The CBI, which is probing alleged irregularities in purchase of Tatra trucks, is also investigating supply of more than 2,500 kits by Vectra company to the Indian Army in 1997-98. Initial probe by the agency has revealed that important components, including gear boxes, were allegedly missing from majority of the kits supplied to the Army, sources said.
According to sources, probe by the agency has also revealed that the Army allegedly paid huge amounts to the company for the supply of these kits in 97-98 .
“The agency is probing under what circumstances officials of the ministry of defence (MoD) paid huge amounts to the private company for the supply of these kits. The agency is trying to ascertain the identity of the MoD officials who played important role in releasing funds to the company without checking these kits,” sources said. The agency is also probing the role of some former officials of the state-owned BEML in this regard, sources added.
Sources further said, “The agency officials are also preparing to question London-based businessman Ravi Rishi, who is an accused in a case involving alleged irregularities in the purchase of more than 6,000 Tatra trucks for the Indian Army. Mr Rishi is also a majority stakeholder in Tatra Sipox UK.”
“Probe by the agency has already revealed that the agreement signed with a foreign trade corporation of Czechoslovakia for the supply of all-terrain Tatra truck vehicles was allegedly fraudulently assigned to Tatra Sipox UK by showing it as the original equipment manufacturer or a fully-owned subsidiary of the Czech firm,” sources said.
In 1997, Tatra Sipox UK signed a truck supply deal with BEML, which was in alleged violation of defence procurement rules which say that procurement should be done directly from the original equipment manufacturer only, sources said.
The agency is also investigating role of some former MoD officials who allegedly joined the accused private company after their retirement, they said.
First agreement for the supply for Tatra all terrain trucks was signed with Czechoslovakia based company Tatra in 1986.