Action if any wrongdoing found in Tatra truck deal: AK Antony

NEW DELHI: Government today promised in the Rajya Sabha that action will be taken on allegations regarding the controversial Tatra truck deal, on which a CBI inquiry has been ordered, after a debate in Parliament.

He made it clear that Tatra trucks were always purchased on the requirement of army and the government did not impose it on the defence forces.

"We are clean...we have nothing to hide, nothing to fear. We would answer everything," Defence Minister A K Antony said, replying to supplementaries related to Tatra truck deals during the question hour.

A huge controversy had broken out after Army Chief Gen V K Singh levelled an allegation last month that a retired Lt General offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to clear purchase of "sub-standard" trucks for the army, in an apparent reference to Tatra trucks.

Antony said the government has ordered an extensive and comprehensive CBI enquiry into the matter and hoped the agency would complete the probe as quickly as possible.

"My understanding is that the CBI inquiry is going on very fast. We would also request the CBI to expedite the inquiry. We would place full facts about the Tatra issue during the discussion in Rajya Sabha," he said.

Regarding allegations, Antony said he would give a detailed reply during the discussion in Rajya Sabha and on the basis of the Parliamentary debate "we will take necessary action".

Seeking to dispel "misconception" about procurement of equipment for the armed forces, he said every procurement of Tatra truck right from 1986 by the ministry has been as per the requirement of the army.