BEML denies new charges against Natarajan

BEML which supplies Tatra trucks to the Indian army, has denied that its Chief Managing Director V Natarajan’s position has been compromised, following a CID report that opined that he was liable for cheating and guilty of a criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts. The preliminary CID investigation was looking into allegations of cheating and misappropriation filed by a former BEML venture partner Midwest Granite. [caption id=“attachment_279921” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“BEML chief V Natarajan”] [/caption] The investigation states that Natarajan acquired personal gains by corrupt means, that he was self centered and dishonestly transferred costs from loss making ventures of his company. However in strong comments made to the NDTV news channel BEML dismissed the report, saying that based on whatever they had seen of the report so far, the legal opinion in the CID report appeared to be “half baked”. It also alleged that the investigators appeared to be relying on fabricated documents. The new information on Natarajan comes even as he appeared before the CBI for questioning in relation to an ongoing investigation into an alleged deal to bribe the Army Chief VK Singh to accept sub standard Tatra trucks into the Indian army. At that point Natarajan was asked to appear only to clarify some points as he is not an accused in the case. BEML assembles and supplies the all terrain Tatra trucks to the Indian army.