Former RAW officer claims tape of Army Chief bribery scandal exists

A former army official has claimed a conversation has been taped between Army Chief VK Singh and an unidentified person, in which the head of the armed forces is asked to take a bribe but refuses to do so.

“I’m told that in this tape, there is that conversation which the General talks about. The gentleman concerned, is heard offering a bribe and telling the Chief that chiefs before you have taken bribes and chiefs after you will take bribes. So why don’t you fall in the line,” Colonel (retired) RSN Singh told CNN-IBN.

While not disclosing where the tape was recorded and who had recorded it, Singh said the Army Chief can be heard in the tape telling the individual to leave his office.

“And then I’m told that General VK Singh can be heard shouting on this fellow that you get out of my office before I do something else to you,” Singh said.

RSN Singh had served in the Military Intelligence following which he also served with the Research and Analysis Wing, India’s external intelligence agency.

CNN-IBN reported that the tape was in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating the allegations of bribery.

General VK Singh had said he was offered a bribe by a former army official and said he had informed the Defence Minister about the incident.

Defence Minister AK Antony, who ordered a CBI probe into the incident, told Parliament today, that though he had asked the Army Chief to file a complaint,  he had said that he preferred not to pursue the matter further.

Lt General (retired) Tejinder Singh, who has been accused by the army of offering bribes in a press release, and was named by the Defence Minister in the Rajya Sabha of offering a bribe, has denied the allegations and filed a case of defamation against officials for tarnishing his reputation.