Tatra scam: CBI questions Vectra Chairman Ravinder Rishi

NEW DELHI: The CBI today questioned Vectra Chairman Ravinder Rishi in connection with Tatra all terrain vehicles supply deal as it needed clarifications on some additional facts which emerged recently during officials' visit to BEML facilities in Bangalore.

CBI officials, who carried out an on-site verification of BEML facilities in Bangalore for the production of Tatra vehicles, have gathered "some crucial" evidence which indicate alleged involvement of some senior officials of the public sector undertaking, sources said.

The agency today called Vectra Chairman Ravinder Rishi, a director in Tatra Sipox UK which entered into the deal with BEML to supply the vehicles, CBI sources said.

Rishi, who is an accused in the case registered by the agency, has refuted any wrongdoing in the supply of these all terrain vehicles to BEML.

The agency might again question Rishi and may also call some former BEML Chairmen cum Managing Directors for seeking clarifications, they said.

Sources said CBI might make some significant arrests in connection with the case soon but clarified that no arrest orders have been issued so far.

The agency is probing alleged irregularities in assigning supply from the Czechoslovakia-based Tatra, with which the agreement was originally signed in 1986, to the Tatra-Sipox UK owned by Rishi in 1997 showing it as Original Equipment Manufacturer and the fully-owned subsidiary of the Czech company which was against rules, they said.