The CBI, probing alleged bribery-offer to Army Chief General V.K. Singh, has now started analysing call details of certain officials of the ministry of defence (MoD), whose role were crucial in the defence procurement procedure.
Sources in the agency said, “Gen. V.K. Singh in his detailed complaint to the CBI has said that the actual requirement of all terrain vehicles by different Army commands was less than what was mentioned on the Tatra file.” The Army Chief in his complaint alleged that he was offered a bribe of `14 crore by a retired officer to clear a tranche of around ‘700’ Tatra vehicles.
Initial probe by the agency has also revealed that the number of trucks required, mentioned on file, were much higher than the actual requirement by all the commands of army, sources added.
“It is suspected that a section of officials either in the Army or ministry of defence might be lobbying for all terrain trucks and tried to push the file through General’s office. The identity of those officials who were lobbying for all terrain trucks, need to be identified,” sources said. This is the reason that the agency officials are analysing call details of certain officials of the MoD as well as Indian Army, sources added.
If required the CBI sleuths may call some officials of the ministry of defence as well as Army for questioning in this regard, sources said.
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Hc rejects tejinder’s plea
Age Correspondent
New Delhi, May 24
The Delhi high court on Thursday dismissed the plea of Lt. Gen. (retired) Tejinder Singh seeking direction to the Central government for withdrawal of a press release issued by the Army making allegations of corruption against him.
Justice Mukta Gupta said the court could not issue directions to the Union government to disown or retract the press release which was issued by the Army independently.
Lt. Gen. Tejinder Singh (Retd) had moved a plea in the high court against Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh and five other Army officers alleging that they had conspired to issue a defamatory press release which claimed that the retired lieutenant general had offered a bribe to the Army Chief in connection with a defence deal.
The Central government had later told the Delhi court that the press release, issued in March, was drafted and released by the Army after consultation with its top brass and that the defence ministry had no role to play in its release.
Justice Mukta Gupta, however, said on Thursday that Lt. Gen. Tejinder Singh (Retd) could make a representation before the authorities concerned seeking initiation of disciplinary proceedings against five Army officials including Chief of Army Staff.
“Taking disciplinary action is part and parcel of the disciplinary authority. In case a representation is made for taking the action, the same would be considered by the authorities concerned,” Justice Gupta said.