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Tatra truck deals since 1997 under CBI lens
The CBI will probe the entire deals from 1997 onwards for procurement of the Tatra heavy duty trucks by the Army as part of its comprehensive probe into the allegations by Army chief General VK Singh that he was offered a bribe by a lobbyist on behalf of a foreign company that manufactures the vehicles.
The move to investigate the truck deals was taken after the agency found prima facie evidence of dilution in the General Staff Qualitative Requirement for procurement of the trucks two years back. The trucks that were being procured from 1986 onwards have not been purchased after March 2010.
The swift move assumes significance as the agency is yet to register either a Preliminary Probe or a Regular Case (FIR).
Top CBI sources said a case will be registered in the matter soon and the agency has asked the Army as well as the Ministry of Defence to furnish the files related to procurement of the heavy duty trucks.
The agency, sources said, has been given an assurance in writing by the Army that all the documents related to Singh's allegation against the lobbyist, a former Lt General, will be submitted by Friday.
Sources said the truck deals from 1997 onwards are under the scanner of the agency as the Czech company, Tatra, was transferred to British firm Sipox that year. As many as 7000 trucks worth over Rs 3,000 crore have been procured so far.
The agency will register the PE or RC depending on the merits of the probe into the files related to the deals and the documentary evidence furnished by the Army chief to substantiate his claims that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore by a former senior officer of the Army and that he had apprised of the development to Defence Minister AK Antony.
Sources said the taped evidence of the bribe offer will be subjected to forensic tests and the agency is likely to probe the delay in reporting the matter before the law enforcement agencies.