April 5, 2012 12:25:03 am
Makers of Tatra trucks,Tatra a.s. of Czech Republic,on Wednesday dismissed allegations that it was involved in corruption in supply of its vehicles to the Army and said it has no direct or indirect relationship with the Indian Army or any of its representatives.
The company said it will seek an explanation from Vectra chairman Ravi Rishi regarding CBIs probe against him in connection with alleged corruption in the supply of trucks.
It also stated that neither Ravi Rishi nor his investment company Vectra Limited,controls or has controlled directly or indirectly Tatra a.s.
The British company Vectra Limited is a minority stakeholder in Tatra holdings and in principle holds one of the four votes. Nonetheless,Tatra will request from Mr Rishi and Vectra Limited an explanation of the information about any initiated investigation of him and Vectra Ltd by Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as it relates to sales of products branded with the Tatra name. Otherwise,Tatra a.s has no responsibility for action taken or claims made by unrelated third parties with whom it has no relationships, it said in
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the statement.
It said Tatra a.s. supplies for India various truck components (CKDs) that make up approximately
30 to 35 per cent of a complete vehicle.
The remaining components are made or supplied by other manufacturers or by BEML,an Indian government controlled company that also assembles the Tatra branded vehicles and then sells and delivers them to customers within India under license agreement for Tatra a.s., it said.
Vectra chief cooperating
The CBI on Wednesday questioned Vectra chairman Ravinder Rishi for the fifth time in connection with alleged irregularities in the Tatra truck deal with the Army even as it sought more documents from the Defence Ministry. Rishi is cooperating with the agency and has agreed to provide all documents related to the Tatra Sipox UK agreement signed with the BEML in 1997,CBI sources said. The CBI is now focusing on the role of officials of Defence Ministry,BEML and Army and may question them in connection with the case soon,they said.
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