CBI probes Tatra, BEML officials on Gen Singh’s complaint

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday registered a case and started investigation into the purchase of 7,000 Tatra trucks for the Army from Vectra, days after Army chief Gen Vijay Kumar Singh called them ''substandard'' and said he was offered a Rs14 crore bribe to clear the purchase of more such vehicles.

''The CBI today registered a first information report relating to alleged irregularities in the Tatra defence deal. The case is against some unknown officials of public sector unit BEML, the Vectra Group and its chairman and managing director Ravi Rishi, a London-based businessman,'' a CBI official said.

CBI officials said that Ravi Rishi, who is in Delhi for the Defence Expo, was called for questioning and asked to furnish records pertaining to the Tatra truck deal.

On Monday, the ministry of defence had sent a reference to the CBI seeking a comprehensive probe in the allegations of Gen Singh.

After registering a case on Friday, the CBI conducted raids at various locations in Delhi and Bangalore.

According to CBI officials, the case is based on the fact that equipment for the army is meant to be bought directly from the manufacturer and not via a middleman. Vectra allegedly owns a company that has functioned as its agent in its dealing with BEML.