Tatra deal: HC notice to CBI on Tejinder Singh's bail plea

The Delhi high court on Tuesday sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation on a bail plea of Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh who was arrested for allegedly offering Rs 14 crore bribe to the then army chief General V K Singh for clearing file pertaining to procurement of Tatra all-terrain vehicles.

Justice Pratibha Rani, who received the judicial file at 3 pm, refused to hear the detailed arguments on behalf of Tejinder Singh, saying "I am yet to open the file. It would be improper to argue at this stage." The bench listed the bail plea for hearing on September 4.

During the brief hearing, senior advocate Geeta Luthra and advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey, appearing for the former army officer, said the personal liberty of their client, who had an unblemished career, was curtailed.

Seeking an urgent hearing and relief, Luthra said, "The accused was never arrested during the investigation and he has been arrested after the filing of the charge sheet. This has come as a shocking hardship to us."

Tejinder Singh on Monday moved the high court seeking bail after the special CBI judge ordered his arrest and sent to him to judicial custody till September 20.

"Nothing has to be recorded or discovered by the CBI at the instance of the petitioner (Singh). Suffice is to mention that the investigation is over, the charge sheet has been filed and the congnizance has been taken.

"The material proposed to be relied upon by the CBI are documentary in nature and they are in the custody of the court. Hence, there is no apprehension of tampering of evidence by or at the instance of the petitioner," the bail plea said.

Tejinder Singh had appeared in the lower court following the summons issued against him in the case and was later taken into custody after the dismissal of the bail plea.

The lower court had taken cognizance of the chargesheet on August 28 after relying upon the statements of former defence minister A K Antony, V K Singh and other witnesses whose testimonies were recorded by CBI during the probe.

In its chargesheet, the CBI had alleged that Tejinder Singh met V K Singh in his office in South Block on September 22, 2010, and during the meeting, he had offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to V K Singh for clearing the file of Tatra vehicles by the first week of October.

Image: Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh