CBI meets Army Chief to record statement in bribery case

CBI officials reportedly met with Army chief General VK Singh at his office in New Delhi today in connection with allegations that he was offered a bribe to approve a contract to obtain Tatra trucks for the Indian Army. The officials met with General Singh at his office in South block, and could record his statement in the case, television channels reported. There was no official comment from the federal investigating agency. In his complaint submitted earlier to the CBI, Army chief General VK Singh had reportedly accused Vectra Group chief Ravi Rishi of attempting to bribe him and sending retired army official Lt General (retired) Tejinder Singh to offer it to him to clear a contract for acquiring trucks. [caption id=“attachment_282167” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“General VK Singh had alleged he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore. Reuters”] [/caption] The CBI has reportedly registered a preliminary inquiry in the case. The Army chief had claimed in media interviews that he had been offered the bribe of Rs 14 crore by a former army official and was so shocked when the offer was made that he didn’t taken any action. Defence Minister AK Antony had earlier told the Rajya Sabha that he had been informed about the bribe being offered but when he asked the Army chief to file a formal complaint he had not done it. A CBI probe was subsequently requested by the Ministry of Defence. The Indian Army had issued a press release on 5 March alleging that Lt General (retired) Tejinder Singh had offered a bribe to the Army chief on behalf of the makers of the Tatra trucks used by the army. The former army official has denied the allegations and filed a case of defamation against the Army chief and four other officials. A court has reserved its order on whether to summon the senior army officials before it.