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Army Chief names retd Lt Gen in his bribery complaint to CBI

New Delhi, March 31
Army Chief Gen VK Singh has named retired Lt Gen Tejinder Singh in his complaint to the CBI as the person who offered him the Rs 14-crore bribe to clear a tranche of nearly 600 “sub-standard” trucks.

The Chief has assured the CBI that he would provide more material about the alleged bribe offer very soon, sources said. Lt Gen Tejinder Singh, who has refuted the allegations, may now be questioned by the CBI which has started examining the complaint. He has slapped a libel suit against the Army Chief and other officers.

Sources said a call on whether to proceed with a preliminary inquiry or a regular FIR would be taken soon. The agency was waiting for a formal complaint from the Army Chief regarding details of alleged bribe offer to initiate a formal probe into the matter referred to it by the Defence ministry. CBI officers had met him on Monday evening.

The Army Chief had not named the vehicles in the interviews but was referring to Tatra trucks. Contradicting Singh's perception of the trucks, DRDO chief VK Saraswat said there was nothing substandard about the vehicles used as base for launching missiles.

“Tatra trucks are outstanding. They have a very good cross-country capability and can move at good speed,” Saraswat told reporters at Defence Expo here.

The Defence Ministry had recommended a CBI probe into the allegation made by the Army Chief. After receiving reference from the ministry, the agency had asked it to make available a complaint from Singh besides other details such as list of witnesses and supporting documents after which it would initiate its probe in the case.

In a suo-motu statement in the Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister AK Antony had said the Army Chief had told him about the bribe offer, which he heard with "shock" and asked him to take action against the person.

But the Army Chief did not want to pursue the matter for unknown reasons, the minister had said.

In a related development, the government said the Intelligence Bureau has been asked to quickly complete its inquiry into the leak of a letter written by the Army Chief to the Prime Minister highlighting various shortcomings in the Army. 

Gen promises more proof

n The Army Chief has named retired Lt Gen Tejinder Singh as the person who offered him the Rs 14-crore bribe to clear a tranche of nearly 600 “sub-standard” trucks

n He has assured the CBI of providing more material on the alleged bribe offer very soon

n Lt Gen Tejinder Singh, who has refuted the allegations, may now be questioned by the CBI. He has slapped a defamation case against the Army Chief and other officers