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MoD ‘bugging’: Tejinder Singh takes Army Chief to apex court
Wants CBI probe into his ‘role’, alleges misconduct
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 25
Lt Gen Tejinder Singh (retd) today moved the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the alleged role of outgoing Army Chief Gen VK Singh in the reported bugging of the Defence Minister’s office. The government has already denied that the minister’s office was bugged.

The retired officer’s move comes in the wake of Gen VK Singh’s allegation that Tejinder Singh offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore for awarding a contract to a private company for the purchase of trucks. On the Army Chief’s complaint, the CBI has begun the investigations.

Tejinder also took exception to the Army Chief reportedly making “political statements” on sensitive issues such as the Maoist problem despite holding the decorated post. It was not proper on the Army Chief’s part to suggest that the Maoist menace was the creation of the government, particularly at a time when the Army’s help had been sought in Naxal-hit areas, he reasoned.

Gen VK Singh has been made a party to the petition filed in the apex court. Tejinder Singh has also filed a criminal defamation case in a trial court here against the Army Chief and four senior officers. The trial court would first decide whether it should summon the Army Chief in the defamation case.

The move by Tejinder Singh today is being seen as yet another chapter in the ongoing fight. Tejinder Singh has already filed a defamation case against the Army Chief and four other Army officers. He has said that the Army Headquarters issued a press release in March in which allegation were levelled against him. This included that he was involved in planting stories in the media about bugging of Antony’s office. The press release had not named him.

The Army Chief on his part has lodged a complaint with the CBI alleging that Tejinder Singh offered him a bribe for pushing the sale of Tatra trucks.