The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), may close its probe within 10 days into allegations that a former army Lieutenant General had offered Rs. 14 crore as bribe to former army chief VK Singh for clearing a pending deal for purchase of 1,676 high-mobility vehicles.
The agency had lodged a first information report in the case in October 2012 and probed allegations for over 18 months that the retired Lieutenant General made the bribe offer on September 22, 2010, to Singh during the latter’s stint. “We have decided to close the probe by month-end into allegations that a retired top army official had attempted to bribe former army chief VK Singh since there is no concrete, clinching evidence that could stand any court’s scrutiny,” said a CBI source.
The source said, “We have examined all the evidence that was provided to us by the defence ministry as well as the former army chief but they were not adequate to prove the allegations. We had done forensic tests on objects of evidentiary value including certain audio-recordings but it was not sufficient.”
Singh had reported the alleged bribe offer to the defence ministry, which then had recommended a CBI probe. The CBI had examined a record of discussion as part of its probe. The retired Lieutenant General had denied the charges. The agency had also questioned a businessman and two of his associates, but they had denied the allegations.
{{/usCountry}}Singh had reported the alleged bribe offer to the defence ministry, which then had recommended a CBI probe. The CBI had examined a record of discussion as part of its probe. The retired Lieutenant General had denied the charges. The agency had also questioned a businessman and two of his associates, but they had denied the allegations.
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