Pre-summoning evidence against Gen Singh to be recorded

Metropolitan magistrate Sudesh Kumar will on Wednesday record the pre-summoning evidence in the criminal defamation case filed by Lt General Teijinder Singh against Army Chief General V K Singh.

In a writ petition in the Delhi high court Lt General Teijinder Singh had requested the honourable high court to issue directions to the government of India and the Indian Army to withdraw the March 6 press release in which he says serious allegations were levelled against him. The petition calls for action against the five serving Army officers including Army Chief General VK Singh, who Lieutenant General (Retired) Tejinder Singh claims abused their official position to make false allegations.

General Teijinder Singh has asked the court to summon and initiate action against Army Chief V K Singh who had made libelous charges against the petitioner. General Singh had alleged that Teijinder Singh had offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore in a defence deal.

The other officers named by Lieutenant General (Retired) Singh include Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General S Singh, Lieutenant General BS Thakur (Director General of Military Intelligence), Major General SL Narshiman (Additional Director General of Public Information) and Lieutenant Colonel Hitten Sawhney (Director, Media).

"The

media cell of the Army Headquarters issued a press release levelling serious allegations against him. He said it was alleged that he had managed all media reports and was also questioned for his alleged role in the purchase of off-the-air monitoring system," Lt. Gen Teijinder Singh said in his writ petition.

The writ petition came a day after the court of metropolitan magistrate Sudesh Kumar took cognisance of the criminal defamation case filed by Lt Gen (retd) Singh against the Army chief and four others.

In his defamation suit filed in the court, Lt Gen (retired) Singh had asked the court to summon and initiate proceedings against the Army chief for making the 'libellous' statement against him in the media.