Bharat Rakshak

Gen VK Singh stalled stopped BEML's 1,000 truck order in 2010

NEW DELHI: Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), which is in the eye of the storm kicked up by the Army chief's claim about a Rs 14-crore bribe offer, was preparing to supply 1,000 Tatra trucks in 2010 when General V K Singh stalled the entire acquisition.

Sources said BEML, the Bangalore-based defence PSU, had on the assurance of the then Master General of Ordnance (MGO) of the Army in 2010, had taken "advance action" for supply of 1,000 Tatra vehicles. All these vehicles were to of 6x6 and 8x8 variants.

It is not clear if Gen Singh refused clearance after September 22, 2010, the day he was allegedly offered the bribe by Lt Gen Tejinder Singh on behalf of Tatra.

Tatra truck purchases are usually sent by MGO directly to the ministry of defence (MoD), BEML later pointed out to the MoD. But in 2010, the Army chief had asked for the Tatra file and put the acquisition on hold. Instead, the Army moved a proposal to the Defence Acquisition Council, headed by defence minister A K Antony, for a competitive global tender for the purchase of 6x6 and 8x8 trucks.

The last order for Tatra trucks were placed with BEML in March, 2010, a few days before Gen VK Singh took over as the Army chief on March 31. The last order was for 788 vehicles out a total projected requirement of 3,296.

While the last order was placed by MGO Lt Gen Vinay Sharma, his successor told the BEML that there was no requirement for new vehicles to be acquired from revenue budget.

The Army is presently processing the global competitive tender, which could take several months to complete.

The forces' stand on Tatra acquisition would be a key component of the ongoing CBI probe into Gen Singh's allegation that he was offered Rs 14 crore bribe for clearing the purchase of Tatra trucks.

While many of the documents related to Tatra deal - from the Army HQ, MoD and BEML - have been handed over to the CBI, indications are that the agency is yet to get any 'breakthrough' documents to show corruption trail in the Tatra deal.

CBI officials would be meeting with Gen Singh, who was away in Punjab on Friday, for collecting further clarification to his written complaint about the bribe offer.

Manmohan Singh is He is really the Man he is, he is must step down from the PM ship owing moral responsibilities for all the scams and fiascos. I wonder how he sleeps in night when he is told that soldiers dont have sufficient ammunition to last 2 days and we have 2 trouble making nations we have fought 6 wars in last 6 and half decades. I really ask him what makes him go to sleep in night? Please advise.

Manmohan Singh is He is really the Man he is, he is must step down from the PM ship owing moral responsibilities for all the scams and fiascos. I wonder how he sleeps in night when he is told that soldiers dont have sufficient ammunition to last 2 days and we have 2 trouble making nations we have fought 6 wars in last 6 and half decades. I really ask him what makes him go to sleep in night? Please advise.

I wonder how he sleeps in night when he is told that soldiers dont have sufficient ammunition to last 2 days and we have 2 trouble making nations we have fought 6 wars in last 6 and half decades. I really ask him what makes him go to sleep in night? Please advise.

He is known to lose sleep only when next of kin of terrorists and their sympathizers are effected.

Otherwise his sleep is not disturbed. On the night when Rajbala was beaten to death by Delhi Police as a part of police brutality to break up Baba Ramdev's satyagrah at 1 PM at night, we are told that Man mohan had retired after a hard days work at 8 PM.

That poor olde man is trying to fight poverty, illiteracy, infrastructure latency, and corruption in the government while boosting the Indian economy into a global powerhouse.

If that is your sense of humor I am not amused. Our economy has slowed down considerably in case you have not noticed. Our Armed forces are weaker. There is a bigger list but it is OT here. I am only rising here because IA appears weaker under MMS leadership. Any self respecting man would hang his head in shame and put papers.

If that is your sense of humor I am not amused. Our economy has slowed down considerably in case you have not noticed. Our Armed forces are weaker. There is a bigger list but it is OT here. I am only rising here because IA appears weaker under MMS leadership. Any self respecting man would hang his head in shame and put papers.

As Gen VKS is being shunted out on the manufactured DoB by Man mohan, Antony on the orders of 2G --> The next step of the game is being put into action.

Next two years are going to be very dangerous for India, even during the last few months of the UPA I, Man mohan managed to get the 123 fiasco through. Wonder what will be the list this time? Reservations in armed forces, dilution of AFSPA, what else?

NDA also isolated India by detonating the nuclear bomb(s). And it was this government that went ahead with refinancing Vikramiditya, closing the MMRCA and getting the Akula

Paki FDI in the Indian defence sector??

That's pure unadulterated BS.

I see another one who thinks India should "stay in its place" and support those who actively work in keeping India "in its place"

Please dont confuse yours with mine.

If you want to be a war mongerer, be my guest. But the battles of this century will be faught in the stock house not likely on the battlefield, especially when it concerns china.

Gurinder P, do not derail discussion by posting inane stuff. There is no substitute for capability (economy as well as military).