CBI probe ordered into BEML's 2009 trucks deal

Under attack over alleged inaction on corruption charges, the Government today said the Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, has ordered a CBI probe into a case relating to public sector undertaking BEML even as inquiry was on into a complaint about an alleged scam in purchase of Tatra trucks.

An official release said that Mr Antony’s sanction for a CBI investigation was given in a case relating to BEML on February 21, much before a newspaper report was published on March 26.

On Monday,

The Hindu had carried an interview of Army Chief Gen V.K. Singh who claimed that a lobbyist had offered him Rs 14 crore as bribe for clearing a deal for purchase of “sub-standard” vehicles of a particular make for the Army.

Regarding a fresh controversy that Mr Antony allegedly did not act on a 2009 complaint about a scam in the purchase of vehicles by BEML, the Defence Ministry release said after receiving a letter from ministerial colleague Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad on October 5, 2009, the Defence Minister had asked Secretary Defence Production to look into various issues raised in the complaint.

“Records show that the vigilance wings of Ministry of Defence and BEML are examining the matter and there are also correspondence between the CBI and the Chief Vigilance Officer of BEML on these allegations,” the release said.

Mr Azad had forwarded the complaint of Mr D. Hanumanthapa, President of the Karnataka wing of All India Federation of SC, ST, Backward Class, Minority Employees Welfare Association on BEML addressed to Sonia Gandhi to Antony.