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Journalism of Courage
THE head of defence PSU BEML for 12 years,V R S Natarajan was today suspended as chairman and managing director by the Defence Ministry. This followed a CBI recommendation that he be kept away from the post to ensure a fair investigation against him in the controversial Tatra truck deal and other cases.
The move comes a few days after the Ministry issued a show cause notice to the BEML chief for slapping a defamation notice against former Army Chief Gen V K Singh without its permission. The charge of CMD has been given to P Dwarkanath,the seniormost functional director in BEML.
The government has put the CMD of BEML,V R S Natarajan,under suspension following a recommendation by the CBI, Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said here.
In Bangalore,Natarajan said he will come out clean in the cases against him. I respect the government decision and I will come out clean, he said.
Natarajan is being questioned over alleged irregularities in procurement and supply of Tatra all-terrain vehicles to the Army. Gen Singh,who retired on May 31,had alleged that he was offered Rs 14 crore bribe by Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh to clear supply of a tranche of 600 sub-standard Tatra trucks from BEML.
On June 6,the Defence Ministry had sought an explanation from Natarajan for serving a legal notice on Gen Singh demanding an apology.
