CBI files case against Lt General Tejinder Singh for allegedly offering bribe to General V K Singh

NEW DELHI: Banking on the statements of former Army Chief VK Singh and former Defence Minister AK Antony, the Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI) has filed charges against retired Lt General Tejinder Singh for allegedly offering a bribe of Rs 14 crore to VK Singh in 2010.

CBI officials had earlier maintained that there was no direct evidence to prove any bribe offer and the case under probe since 2012 might be closed. On Tuesday, however, the agency filed a charge sheet against Lt Gen Singh alleging that circumstantial evidence with it showed the bribe offer was made during a meeting between him and General VK Singh in 2010.

A senior CBI official said the agency had recorded the statement of Antony, who told them that Singh had informed him verbally of the said bribe offer. Other circumstances like General VK Singh telling his personal staff after the meeting that Lt Gen Tejinder Singh should not be allowed to enter the Army chief ’s cabin again "corroborates" the version of General VK Singh that he was offered a bribe, the official said.

"Our case is based on circumstantial evidence," the official said, admitting there was no clear video or audio recording available of the said meeting. Lt General Tejinder Singh had filed a defamation case against General VK Singh and three other Army officers after the allegations were first made by the Army chief in 2012, two years after the meeting between them.