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tatra deal
CBI chargesheets Lt Gen Tejinder Singh

New Delhi, July 15
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today filed a chargesheet against Lt General Tejinder Singh (retd) for allegedly offering Rs 14 crore in bribe to the then Army Chief VK Singh in connection with the Tatra truck deal.

The chargesheet filed under Section 12 (offering bribe to a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act named the retired Lieutenant General for having allegedly offered the bribe on behalf of Tatra trucks suppliers who provided the all-terrain vehicles to the Indian Army. A spokesperson for the CBI said the investigation agency filed a chargesheet today against a retired Lieutenant General in the court of Special Judge, Patiala House Courts, after conducting a thorough investigation.

Sources in the CBI said the chargesheet was based on circumstantial evidence, which includes Tejinder Singh’s meeting with the then Army Chief and putting on hold the order for supply of trucks from Tatra.

Expressing surprise over the move, Tejinder Singh said media reports last year suggested no proof was found in the case and that it was heading for a closure. These reports were obviously based from information from the CBI, he claimed.

“My interaction with the agency clearly indicated that there was no credible evidence in the case. Now with the change of the government, there seems to be a change of heart in the probe agency and therefore, the filing of chargesheet is abuse of power by the people concerned and politically motivated,” he said. — PTI

‘Offered’ bribe

• Former Army Chief VK Singh had alleged that Lt General Tejinder Singh (retd) had offered him Rs 14 crore in bribe on September 22, 2010 on behalf of Tatra trucks supplier
• He had allegedly sought the Army Chief’s favour in clearing the file for procurement of 1,676 Tatra HMVs for the Indian Army