The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday registered a First Information Report (FIR) for alleged irregularities in supply of all-terrain Tatra trucks through public sector BEML to the Army.
The Army Chief General, Mr V.K. Singh, had alleged in an interview to The Hindu that he had been offered a bribe to clear supply of sub-standard vehicles to the Army.
The FIR names Mr Ravi Rishi, a London-based businessman who owns the Vectra group and has a majority stake in the Tatra trucks, a Slovakian manufacturer.
It also refers to unknown officials of BEML, Vectra and Army. The case has been registered under provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to criminal conspiracy to cheat and under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly indulging in corrupt practices.
Later in the day, the CBI received a reply from the Army Chief confirming the offer of bribe made to him. CBI sources said the General has said that he would furnish more details soon.
His reply also does not mention any bribe amount, the sources said.
Soon after formally registering the case, CBI officials carried out searches at four places in Delhi, Noida, and Bangalore, official sources said. The sources said the probe would look into purchases of Tatra trucks from 1997 onwards.
Mr Rishi, a British national, who is here for the ongoing Defence Expo, was called by the CBI officials to the agency's headquarters for questioning. Since 1986, Army has purchased some 7000 Tatra trucks to transport troops and artillery.
CBI sources indicated that the agency had received the reference from Defence Ministry on March 26 itself regarding allegations made by the Army Chief.