'Antony ordered CBI probe into BEML deal in 2009'

Last Updated: Friday, March 30, 2012, 18:31

A- A A+

Tags: BEML, A K Antony, CBI

New Delhi: Under attack over alleged inaction on corruption charges, Government on Friday said Defense Minister A K Antony has ordered a CBI probe into a case relating to public sector undertaking BEML even as inquiry was on into a complaint about an alleged scam in purchase of Tatra trucks.

An official release said that Antony's sanction for a CBI investigation was given in a case relating to BEML on February 21, much before a newspaper report was published on March 26.

On Monday, The Hindu had carried an interview of Army Chief Gen V K Singh who claimed that a lobbyist had offered him Rs 14 crore as bribe for clearing a deal for purchase of "sub-standard" vehicles of a particular make for the army.

Regarding a fresh controversy that Antony allegedly did not act on a 2009 complaint about a scam in the purchase of vehicles by BEML, the Defense Ministry release said after receiving a letter from ministerial colleague Ghulam Nabi Azad on October 5, 2009, the Defense Minister had asked Secretary Defense Production to look into various issues raised in the complaint.

"Records show that the vigilance wings of Ministry of Defense and BEML are examining the matter and there is also correspondence between the CBI and the Chief Vigilance Officer of BEML on these allegations," the release said.

Azad had forwarded the complaint of D Hanumanthapa, President of the Karnataka wing of All India Federation of SC, ST, Backward Class, Minority Employees Welfare Association on BEML addressed to Sonia Gandhi to Antony.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, Prakash Javadekar of BJP questioned whether the minister was patronising corruption as no action has been taken against anybody though a probe was ordered two years back.

He rejected Antony's contention that he did not act on the Army Chief's information on bribe offer in absence of any written complaint and claimed that a written complaint did exist.

"If the probe in Tatra trucks is continuing from 2009 to 2011, if it is not completed in two years, then this government and this Defense Minister are trying to cover up corruption.

If you are patronising corruption, you have no right to remain in power. The Defense Minister should resign," Javadekar said.

PTI

For Zee News’s Updates, follow us on Twitter , Facebook, Google+, Pinterest

First Published: Friday, March 30, 2012, 16:36

Post your Comments

Name:
Place :
Email :
Comments :

Comments

sankar - bangalore
By raising the Age issue of the Army chief GenVKSinghThe Govt wanted to ease him out earlier and stop him from caarrying out trouble .SC never told categorically what is his real date of birth.They said his date of birth is May1950 for official and admistrative purposes.Strange

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

A K SAXENA (A retired civil servant) - DELHI
A passive witness is as much a criminal as as the actual offender.A K Antony ,though incorruptible,is dishonest.The same logic/philosophy applies to Dr Manmohan Singh,who is unable to rein in his corrupt ministers despite clear pieces of evidence. Are they controlled by some super cabinet.Who is that superpower that manipulates all governmental actions.Is that Constitutional or extra-Constitutional?

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

yuceem - bhubaneswar
both MMS and Antony though reputed to be personally incorrupt are the biggest passive perpetrators of corruption. In olden days kings used to employ Eunuchs and dumb persons to guard harems so that they personally cannot do any harm but royals were free to do whatever they liked. Same is the case with MMS and Antony, they are employed to guard the treasures to allow only royal loot. It seems VK Singh`s date of birth correction was tirned down at the influence of arms dealers as he was not doing their bidding.