BEML, Tatra Deny Army Chief's Bribe Claims

Published: Friday, March 30, 2012, 16:35 [IST]

Defence public sector unit Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Tatra and Vectra Limited denied allegations made by Army Chief General VK Singh that he was offered bribe to clear the purchase of sub-standard trucks. They also slammed the allegations that former Defence Intelligence Agency chief Lt Gen (retired) Tejinder Singh had offered Rs 14 crore bribe to VK Singh to clear an order of 600 Tara trucks that was of sub-standard quality.

BEML chairman and managing director V.R.S. Natarajan said that they were the only authorised manufacturers of the said vehicles under licence from Tatra and Vectra and since, did not need to bribe anyone. “We are the nominated nodal agency for the defence ministry to manufacture this class of trucks and supply to the army,” Natarajan was quoted as saying.

The army, recently in a statement had stated that Tejinder Singh was lobbying for the firm Tatra. The army had issued the statement in order to defend allegations that the army chief had ordered the snooping of Defence Minister A.K. Antony and other security top brass at the peak of his age-related row.

BEML produces Czech Tatra trucks under its license in India. While BEML builds its trucks, Tatra supplies some indigenous spares to the company