New Delhi:
Army Chief General VK Singh has named retired Lt General Tejinder Singh in his complaint to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the alleged Rs 14 crore bribe offered to him to clear tranche of nearly 600 Tatra trucks. CBI sources said that General Singh has assured them of providing more material about the alleged bribe offer soon.
The Army Chief's revelation that he was offered a bribe six months after he took office in 2010 has led to renewed attention to how equipment is bought for the Army. The sale of 7000 trucks to the Army by a company named Vectra is being formally investigated by the CBI.
General Singh had claimed that a lobbyist, who had "just" retired, offered him a bribe for clearing "sub-standard" vehicles and he had informed the Defence Minister about it. The Ministry had then recommended a CBI probe into the allegation made by the Army chief.
The CBI has now started examining the complaint received on Friday and may question retired Lt General Tejinder Singh in connection with the case, they said. Sources said a call on whether to proceed with a preliminary enquiry 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 earlier met the Army Chief on Monday evening.
Retired Lt General Tejinder Singh has refuted the allegations. He has also filed a defamation case against the Army chief and other officers.