Order on summoning Army chief in defamation case on Sat

A Delhi court is likely to deliver its order on Saturday on summoning Army Chief Gen V K Singh and four others named as accused in a criminal defamation case filed by former Lt Gen Tejinder Singh.

Metropolitan Magistrate Sudesh Kumar, who on the last date of hearing had sought some clarifications from Tejinder Singh as to what were the independent roles of the persons named as accused in the plea, has fixed for Saturday to pronounce his order.

The court had earlier recorded Tejinder Singh's statement and pre-summoning evidence in support of his complaint over a press release alleging that he had offered bribe on behalf of Tatra and Vectra Ltd, which supplies vehicles to BEML.

He had denied having made Rs 14 crore bribe offer to the Army Chief to strike the defence deal.

The court, during the last hearing, had asked the roles of the accused in issuing the March 5 press release, which Tejinder Singh alleged was circulated with the sole intention to defame him.

Tejinder Singh's counsel had said that the Army Chief took his name in the media and Lt Col Hitten Sawhney, posted in the media cell and named as accused in the case, had signed the press release.

Tejinder Singh, a former Director General of Defence Intelligence Agency, had filed the defamation complaint against the Army chief and four other Army officials.

Besides Army chief, he has named Vice Chief of Army Staff S K Singh, Lt Gen B S Thakur (DG MI), Major General S L Narshiman (Additional Director General of Public Information) and Lt Col Hitten Sawhney, accusing them of misusing their official position, power and authority to level false charges against him.