Gen VK Singh favoured muti-vendor trial for trucks

Army Chief General VK Singh told the CBI that as part of opting for multi-vendor bid route for procuring all terrain heavy duty trucks, vehicles of few of the bidders were tested in high-altitude areas, said CBI sources.

Army Chief General VK Singh told the CBI that as part of opting for multi-vendor bid route for procuring all terrain heavy duty trucks, vehicles of few of the bidders were tested in high-altitude areas, said CBI sources.

So far the Army has procured such all-terrain trucks from single vendor only.

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According to sources, the bidders included Ural — a joint venture between Indian and Russian companies.

The CBI investigators during their meeting with General Singh specifically asked about the trials of all-terrain vehicles conducted in high-altitude areas when he was heading Eastern Army command.

Sources said according to General Singh the trials conducted in Eastern Command were in the knowledge of the Army headquarter and part of the process to adopt multi-vendor route for all-terrain vehicles.

The Army opting for multi-vendor bid route would have resulted in loss of huge order for the suppliers of Tatra trucks.

"General Singh has also stated that Tatra trucks were fitted with engines that use air-cooling technique and these were older versions. New engines use liquid-coolant and they were considered more efficient," said a senior CBI official.

According to sources, General Singh is yet to provide the CBI the record of discussion maintained in the Army headquarter about the meeting between the him and retired Lt. Gen Tejinder Singh in which the alleged bribe offer was made.