CBI books BEML head for cheating

The working of Bharat Earth Movers Limited and its chairman-cum-managing director VRS Natrajan is increasingly coming under CBI scrutiny with the probe agency booking him for the first time on charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and corruption. Rajesh Ahuja reports.

The working of Bharat Earth Movers Limited and its chairman-cum-managing director VRS Natrajan is increasingly coming under CBI scrutiny with the probe agency booking him for the first time on charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and corruption.

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The BEML, a miniratna category 1 (the status gives more functional autonomy) public sector undertaking, is already named as an accused in two cases registered by the CBI.

The first case pertains to alleged inflated sales of R894 crore between 2005 and 2008. The second case was registered in the last month in connection with Tatra trucks deal.

Natrajan was twice questioned by the CBI in the Tatra deal till Wednesday. So far, he has not been named an accused in the Tatra deal case, in which a UK based company, Tatra Sipox (UK) Limited, and its owner Ravinder Rishi have been named as accused along with the BEML. The CBI has not given a clean-chit to Natrajan in the Tatra deal case.

The cost of contract was around R40 crore. After registering the case, the agency searched the premises of Natrajan and Srivatsan.