New Delhi:
A Delhi court will today decide whether or not to summon former Army Chief VK Singh in a defamation case filed against him by retired Lieutenant General Tejinder Singh. The court had earlier noted that it cannot draw any conclusions based on Tejinder's witnesses.
The Delhi High Court had earlier refused to direct the Centre to take back a press release of the Army alleging that Tejinder Singh offered a bribe to the Army chief in connection with a defence deal.
"The Union of India cannot be directed to disown or retract the aforesaid press release," Justice Mukta Gupta said while disposing off a petition by Tejinder Singh seeking withdrawal of the alleged defamatory press release.
The court also considered the reply of the Ministry of Defence that it had no role in the issuance of March 5 press release as it was given out by the Army Headquarters.
The court, however, said that Tejinder Singh could make a representation before the authorities concerned seeking initiation of disciplinary proceedings against five Army officials including Chief of Army Staff Gen VK Singh.
In the criminal writ petition filed through his counsel Anil K Aggarwal, Tejinder Singh had contended that the press release issued by senior Army officials, including the Army chief, was "defamatory" and had sought its withdrawal.
The Army chief had earlier claimed that a lobbyist, who had "just" retired, offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore for clearing a file relating to purchase of a tranche of 600 "sub-standard" TATRA trucks and that he had immediately informed Defence Minister AK Antony about it.
The Delhi High Court had earlier refused to direct the Centre to take back a press release of the Army alleging that Tejinder Singh offered a bribe to the Army chief in connection with a defence deal.
"The Union of India cannot be directed to disown or retract the aforesaid press release," Justice Mukta Gupta said while disposing off a petition by Tejinder Singh seeking withdrawal of the alleged defamatory press release.
The court also considered the reply of the Ministry of Defence that it had no role in the issuance of March 5 press release as it was given out by the Army Headquarters.
The court, however, said that Tejinder Singh could make a representation before the authorities concerned seeking initiation of disciplinary proceedings against five Army officials including Chief of Army Staff Gen VK Singh.
In the criminal writ petition filed through his counsel Anil K Aggarwal, Tejinder Singh had contended that the press release issued by senior Army officials, including the Army chief, was "defamatory" and had sought its withdrawal.
The Army chief had earlier claimed that a lobbyist, who had "just" retired, offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore for clearing a file relating to purchase of a tranche of 600 "sub-standard" TATRA trucks and that he had immediately informed Defence Minister AK Antony about it.
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