New Delhi:
The army chief's revelation that he was offered a bribe six months after he took office in 2010 has led to renewed attention to how equipment is bought for the army. The sale of 7000 trucks to the army by a company named Vectra is being formally investigated by the CBI. Here are 10 big developments in the case:
1) Army Chief General V K Singh on Friday replied to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirming his allegation that he was offered a bribe by a lobbyist to clear the supply of a tranche of "sub-standard vehicle" for the force.
2) The CBI raided Tatra offices in Bangalore and Delhi today. In an FIR it registered today, the CBI named Ravi Rishi, a London-based businessman who owns the Vectra Group and has majority stake in the Tatra trucks, a Czech manufacturer. Public sector unit BEML buys Tatra parts from Vectra and assembles trucks in Bangalore that were then sold to the army. The FIR also refers to unknown defense officials and authorities at BEML.
3) 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.
4) Ravi Rishi was questioned on Friday by the CBI. Since 1986, army has bought 7000 Tatra trucks to transport troops and artillery. An army press release earlier this month said retired officer Lt General Tejinder Singh was offering bribes on behalf of Tatra-Vectra. Charges denied by both Tejinder Singh and Vectra chairman.
5) Newspaper report today claims that Defence Minister AK Antony was told in 2009 that Tatra trucks were being purchased in violation of guidelines. Then Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had forwarded a complaint to Defence Minister that said Vectra in London was serving as a middleman.
6) Vectra chairman Ravi Rishi told NDTV yesterday that Tatra does not have any agents in India. Said he has never met Tejinder Singh and the retired officer does not represent his company.
7) BJP's Prakash Javadekar says Defence Minister must resign for not taking action after receiving complaint about the Tatra deal.
8) Tejinder Singh sued army chief yesterday for defamation. Today, he has in the Delhi High Court asked the government to explain if it sanctioned a press release issued by the army, that he describes as defamatory.
9) The press release, issued on March 5, said Tejinder Singh had offered bribes on behalf of Tatra-Vectra. It also suggested that as former Director General of Defence Intelligence Agency (DGDIA), he had not taken the required clearances to buy off-the-air monitoring equipment. The press release was issued amid reports that the army had been spying on the Defence Ministry. Army denied these reports.
10) Army chief has described leak of letter as "treason" and has said he rejects allegations that he was responsible for the leak. Defence Minister has not blamed anyone, has said Intelligence Bureau will identify the mole and severest punishment according to Indian law will follow.