<p>The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday questioned BEML Chairman and Managing Director V R S Natarajan, former BEML director of procurement V Mohan and NRI businessman Ravi Rishi in connection with the alleged irregularities in the supply of all-terrain Tatra trucks to the Army.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Army Chief V K Singh may be questioned by the investigating agency into his allegation next week.<br /><br />Natarajan, who reached CBI headquarters around 11:30 am was asked to appear before the country’s premiere investigating agency to clarify some points regarding the procurement and supply of Tatra trucks. He is not an accused in the case.<br /><br />According to sources in the CBI, Natarajan was asked about the details of payments made to Tatra <br /><br />UK and procurement process of equipment used in assembling these trucks besides the reasons for renewing the supply contract with the company in 2003 much before it was required in 2006.<br /><br />Sources in the agency said Tatra Sipox UK signed the truck supply deal with BEML in 1997, which was in alleged violation of defence procurement rules, which say that procurement should be done directly from original equipment manufacturer only.<br />The central probe agency has alleged that since Tatra Sipox UK was not the original manufacturer of these all-terrain trucks, the rule for defence procurements was violated.<br />The central probe agency again questioned Ravi Rishi, the owner of Tatra Sipox UK, who has been named by the CBI in its first information report in the matter registered on March 30.<br /><br />Rishi and Mohan were questioned by the investigating agency on Monday as well.<br />However, Rishi against whom the investigating agency has issued lookout notice to prevent him from moving out of country termed the allegations against him as unfortunate, asserting that the trucks were sold through public sector undertaking BEML.<br /><br />Rishi also described the charges levelled by Gen Singh regarding Tatra trucks that they were “sub-standard” and that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to clear a tranche of 600 such trucks as “baseless”.<br /><br />The BEML chief has also refuted the charges that there was alleged involvement of agents and lobbyists in placement of orders for the all-terrain trucks.<br /><br />“In last 26 years, from 1986 onwards BEML assembled manufactured, supplied 7,000 Tatra trucks. All of them have been done on single nomination basis, single inquiry basis,” Natarajan had said.<br /><br />“This type of equipment nobody in the world makes, because of its superior technological features. When I am the single vendor and there is no competition, there is no influence required,” he had said.<br /><br />Natarajan had said that “there is no need for BEML to influence. Not a single TATRA representative has ever marketed the product (trucks).”<br /><br />The agency registered a Preliminary Enquiry on April 11 into the alleged bribery offer.</p>
<p>The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday questioned BEML Chairman and Managing Director V R S Natarajan, former BEML director of procurement V Mohan and NRI businessman Ravi Rishi in connection with the alleged irregularities in the supply of all-terrain Tatra trucks to the Army.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Army Chief V K Singh may be questioned by the investigating agency into his allegation next week.<br /><br />Natarajan, who reached CBI headquarters around 11:30 am was asked to appear before the country’s premiere investigating agency to clarify some points regarding the procurement and supply of Tatra trucks. He is not an accused in the case.<br /><br />According to sources in the CBI, Natarajan was asked about the details of payments made to Tatra <br /><br />UK and procurement process of equipment used in assembling these trucks besides the reasons for renewing the supply contract with the company in 2003 much before it was required in 2006.<br /><br />Sources in the agency said Tatra Sipox UK signed the truck supply deal with BEML in 1997, which was in alleged violation of defence procurement rules, which say that procurement should be done directly from original equipment manufacturer only.<br />The central probe agency has alleged that since Tatra Sipox UK was not the original manufacturer of these all-terrain trucks, the rule for defence procurements was violated.<br />The central probe agency again questioned Ravi Rishi, the owner of Tatra Sipox UK, who has been named by the CBI in its first information report in the matter registered on March 30.<br /><br />Rishi and Mohan were questioned by the investigating agency on Monday as well.<br />However, Rishi against whom the investigating agency has issued lookout notice to prevent him from moving out of country termed the allegations against him as unfortunate, asserting that the trucks were sold through public sector undertaking BEML.<br /><br />Rishi also described the charges levelled by Gen Singh regarding Tatra trucks that they were “sub-standard” and that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to clear a tranche of 600 such trucks as “baseless”.<br /><br />The BEML chief has also refuted the charges that there was alleged involvement of agents and lobbyists in placement of orders for the all-terrain trucks.<br /><br />“In last 26 years, from 1986 onwards BEML assembled manufactured, supplied 7,000 Tatra trucks. All of them have been done on single nomination basis, single inquiry basis,” Natarajan had said.<br /><br />“This type of equipment nobody in the world makes, because of its superior technological features. When I am the single vendor and there is no competition, there is no influence required,” he had said.<br /><br />Natarajan had said that “there is no need for BEML to influence. Not a single TATRA representative has ever marketed the product (trucks).”<br /><br />The agency registered a Preliminary Enquiry on April 11 into the alleged bribery offer.</p>
