The Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, on Tuesday told the Rajya Sabha that the Army Chief, General V.K Singh, did not want to pursue the case of the alleged bribe offer of Rs 14 crore. “This happened more than a year ago. That is my memory. Exact date they (the Army) know because no one can meet the Army Chief without appointment,” Mr Antony said.
He was replying to the allegation by General V.K. Singh that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to push a defence deal and had informed the Defence Minister.
Mr Antony said he had then told General Singh to take action. “But he told me I do not want to pursue it. I don't know why he did not want to pursue it at that time,” he added.
The Defence Minister told the House that he used to take action even based on anonymous complaints. In the Army chief's case, there was no formal complaint. “I cannot act just on a complaint. I did not get any written complaint,” Mr Antony said. “I acted on my judgment. If I am wrong, you may punish me. I think I have done my best,” he added.
However, the Opposition took a “lenient” view of Mr Antony's stand and urged him to see that such issues do not happen in his Ministry in future.
The Opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Arun Jaitley, said the Government lacked statecraft in dealing with such sensitive issues. “Is this an issue on which both of them should have put blinkers on their eyes and not inquired into the matter at all?” he said. He said he would support Mr Antony if he wanted to “cleanse” the system.
Responding to the Opposition members, Mr Antony said he had asked the Defence Secretary to take immediate action based on newspaper reports. “CBI will inquire into everything,” he added.