Army chief bribery case: CBI grills Tejinder Singh

CBI on Wednesday questioned Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh in connection with allegations levelled by former army chief VK Singh that he was offered Rs 14 crore by him to clear a tranche of "sub-standard" vehicles.

CBI on Wednesday questioned Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh in connection with allegations levelled by former army chief VK Singh that he was offered Rs 14 crore by him to clear a tranche of "sub-standard" vehicles.

Singh who appeared for questioning in the late afternoon was examined for nearly three hours in connection with the allegations levelled by the then chief, CBI sources said.

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As part of the Preliminary Enquiry, CBI is probing alleged relationship Singh enjoyed with the Vectra group which purportedly prompted him to make the offer to the then army chief, the sources said.

The agency had registered a PE in a matter related to an alleged offer of bribe to the then chief of army staff by a retired army officer on behalf of a private person in connection with procurement of vehicles by Indian Army, CBI had said.

The incident had reportedly occurred in September, 2010, the agency had said. It had received a complaint from the then army chief giving details of the alleged bribery offer made to him by Singh, who has denied the charge terming it as absolutely false and concocted.

When contacted over phone, Singh declined to say anything.

The CBI might convert the PE into an FIR if it finds prima-facie evidence of any alleged wrong-doing.

The then army chief had alleged that Singh had offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore, a matter he had reported to defence minister AK Antony, to clear purchase of nearly 600 all-terrain Tatra BEML trucks.

Singh had refuted the allegations and also slapped a defamation case against the the army chief and other officers.