April 17, 2012 1:03:21 pm
BEML Chairman and Managing Director V R S Natarajan today appeared before the CBI as the agency summoned him for clarifications pertaining to procurement and supply of Tatra all-terrain trucks to the Army.
CBI sources said Natarajan was asked to appear only to clarify some points as he is not an accused in the case. Natarajan arrived at the CBI headquarters here about 11.30 am.
The central probe agency was likely to ask him reasons for allegedly renewing the supply contract with Tatra Sipox UK in 2003 much before it was required in 2006.
Natarajan may also be asked details of payments made to Tatra Sipox UK and procurement process of equipment used in assembling these trucks,they said.
Best of Express Premium
In 1997,Tatra Sipox UK had signed the truck supply deal with BEML which was in alleged violation of defence procurement rules stating that procurement should be done directly from original equipment manufacturer only,the sources said.
The CBI has alleged that since Tatra Sipox UK was not the original manufacturer of these all-terrain trucks,the rule that defence procurements should be made from original manufacturer was violated.
- The Indian Express website has been rated GREEN for its credibility and trustworthiness by Newsguard, a global service that rates news sources for their journalistic standards.
