Chief of the Army Staff General V. K. Singh on Tuesday lodged a formal complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation on the alleged offer of Rs. 14 crore as bribe to him two years ago by an equipment manufacturer's lobbyist to clear the supply of a tranche of 600 sub-standard vehicles to the Army.
Sources in the CBI, confirming the receipt of the complaint, said it was being examined.
The Army Chief disclosed the bribe offer during an interview to The Hindu that was published on March 26. Defence Minister A. K. Antony has ordered a CBI inquiry into the matter.
On March 30, General Singh wrote to the CBI, alleging there was a bribe offer from Lieutenant General (retd.) Tejinder Singh, the sources said. The CBI then asked him to furnish a detailed complaint along with a possible list of witnesses and supporting documents so as to pursue the inquiry.
Tejinder in denial
Lt. Gen. (retd.) Tejinder Singh has strongly rejected the allegations and filed a defamation case against the Army Chief and other officers.
A preliminary inquiry or an FIR could be registered soon after the completion of the usual procedures, the CBI sources said.
