The CBI today registered a case in connection with the supply of all-terrain Tatra trucks through the State-owned BEML to the Army and called for questioning the Vectra group Chairman, Mr Ravi Rishi, who is a majority stake holder in Tatra.

CBI sources said British national Mr Rishi, who is in the national Capital for the Defence Expo, has been called for questioning in connection with the alleged irregularities in the deal.

The CBI Director, Mr A. P. Singh, had examined a report forwarded by one of the joint directors of the agency, who had opined that a case could be made out and a thorough investigation was required, the sources said.

The deal came under the scanner after the Army Chief, General V. K. Singh, alleged that he was offered a Rs 14-crore bribe to clear a file related to purchase of trucks.

The Defence Ministry has sent a reference to the CBI seeking a probe into the allegations. However, the agency is waiting for a complaint from Gen Singh before initiating a probe into his allegations.

The sources said based on the reference, two separate cases could be registered by the agency — one related to the deal and another to the alleged bribery offer.

Reacting to the alleged involvement of agents and lobbyists in placement of orders for the Tatra trucks, the chief of the State-owned BEML, Mr V. R. S. Natarajan has said, “In the last 26 years, from 1986 onwards, BEML has assembled, manufactured and supplied 7,000 Tatra trucks. All of them have been done on single nomination basis, single inquiry basis.

“This type of equipment nobody in the world makes, because of its superior technological features. When I am the single vendor and there is no competition, there is no influence required,” he said.

The name of Tatra and Bharat Earth Movers Ltd was taken by the Army in a press release issued by it on March 5, alleging that retired Lt Gen Tejinder Singh had offered a bribe on behalf of Tatra and Vectra Limited.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW