Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh
A Delhi court is expected to decide whether or not to summon Army Chief General VK Singh in connection with the defamation suit filed against him by Lieutenant General (retired) Tejinder Singh, on Monday.
Tejinder Singh wants the court to summon and initiate proceedings against General VK Singh over allegations levelled against him in a March 5 press release, issued by the Army. He claimed the allegations caused immeasurable harm to his reputation.
General V K Singh had caused a stir by revealing that he had been offered a bribe a year and a half ago to influence a defence deal. One of the allegations made was that Tejinder Singh offered a bribe to General Singh on behalf of a company called Tatra and Vectra Limited. That matter is now being investigated by the CBI, which has recorded the Army Chief's statement and quizzed Tejinder Singh.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to direct the Centre to take back that March 5 press release. "The Union of India cannot be directed to disown or retract the aforesaid press release," Justice Mukta Gupta said while disposing off the case. The court also considered the reply of the Ministry of Defence that it had no role in issuing the press release, 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 V K Singh.
Tejinder Singh had approached the high court seeking withdrawal of the press release of the Army on the ground that it had violated his fundamental right to reputation. However, the court did not agree with the plea after the Centre made it clear that it was not responsible for the actions of some Army officials.
Tejinder Singh had also moved the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe against the Army Chief for alleged illegal tapping of mobile phones in the Defence Ministry. That petition was subsequently withdrawn.