CBI fails to establish link between Tejinder Singh and Tatra

NEW DELHI: CBI has not been able to establish any link between Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh and manufacturer of Tatra trucks on whose behalf he has been accused of offering bribe to the then Army Chief Gen (retd) V K Singh.

While the CBI has chargesheeted Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh under section 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act (for bribing a government servant), the agency has not be able to find any link between him and the owners of Tatra truck manufacturers, official sources said.

They said the charge sheet mentioned about a note written by former Army Chief, who is at present Minister of State for External Affairs and incharge of Department of Northeastern Region, that "looks like he( Tejinder Singh) works for (Ravi) Rishi and Tatra".

The CBI has annexed statement of a staff officer of V K Singh who told the probe agency that the former Army Chief, after his meeting, had said not to give Tejinder Singh any appointments in future. The CBI also recorded statement of an assistant who confirmed that the former Army Chief made notes after meeting with Tejinder Singh.

Once favourite of the former Army Chief who had even recommended him for a post in National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), the CBI has supported its claim with a letter written by Gen V K Singh to the then National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon asking him not to recommend Tejinder Singh for NTRO chief job.

CBI filed on July 15 its charge sheet against Tejinder Singh for allegedly offering a bribe of Rs 14 crore to the then Army Chief in connection with the Tatra truck deal.