New Delhi: The CBI on Tuesday sought legal advice from Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati on the Army Chief's letter about the bribe offer made to him for allegedly clearing the purchase of sub-standard all-terrain vehicles for the forces.
Sources said that the top CBI officials have met the AG on Tuesday. The CBI sources said that the legal opinion is necessary to decide if evidence provided by General VK Singh is good enough to register a case. They are also looking into the time lapse between the occurrence and the complaint.
Sources say the CBI is cautious as a senior officer of the rank of Lt General is involved in the case.
Earlier, Army Chief General VK Singh wrote to the CBI about the bribe offer made to him. General Singh's written complaint to the CBI mentions that he was offered bribe by Lieutenant General (retired) Tejinder Singh to clear the purchase.
Sources say that General VK Singh's complaint details the sequence of event that led to the bribe being offered. Senior CBI officials are examining the written complaint and sources say the investigating agency is not ruling out registering a complaint against Lt Gen (retired) Tejinder Singh by Tuesday evening.
Senior CBI officials including the Directorate of Prosecution are meeting to examine the complaint.
Meanwhile, the Patiala House Court has recorded Lt Gen Tejinder Singh's statement in the criminal defamation case he filed against General VK Singh and four other Army officers. The court will give its order on April 21 whether or not to summon General VK Singh.
Lt Gen Singh filed the case after the Army Chief hinted alleged he had offered him a bribe- to clear a deal for the purchase of sub-standard Tatra trucks. The General had hinted at Tejinder Singh's involvement. Tejinder Singh hit back accusing the top brass of misusing their official positions to level false accusations against him.
Taking cognizance of Lt Gen (retired) Tejinder Singh's complaint the court had asked him to record evidence in support of his allegations levelled against the Army Chief and four others.
Besides General VK Singh, he has also named Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General SK Singh, Lieutenant General BS hakur (Director General Military Intelligence), Major General SL Narshiman (Additional Director General of Public Information) and Lieutenant Colonel Hitten Sawhney.
He has accused them of misusing their official positions to level false charges against him. Tejinder Singh had refuted allegations that he has offered bribe for purchase of sub-standard vehicles and has moved court to clear his name.
General VK Singh has alleged that he was offered Rs 14 crore as bribe to clear the purchase of a tranche of Tatra all-terrain vehicles.
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