Tatra deal: Apology for what, asks Gen V K Singh

Former Army Chief General V K Singh on Friday rejected the demand for an apology made by BEML chief V R S Natarajan on allegations of bribe in the Tatra truck deal.

"Apology for what, I would like to ask Natarajan that. I have not alleged anything, I have just stated some facts," he said reacting to Natarajan's demand at a press conference in Bangalore where he had said the BEML has slapped a legal notice to Gen Singh seeking an apology for leveling allegations of bribe in the Tatra truck deal.

He said "Natarajan has been there for more than 12 years with the BEML. He should be knowing how things are run in BEML."

"The issue is with the CBI, which is investigating. I am quite sure that he (Natarajan) is motivated to file all kinds of things against me. What are the facts are known to him and now to the CBI. Let us proceed with the investigation, I am quite sure we will find what the truth is," Singh said.

On the ongoing CBI inquiry, he said, "We need to look at the entire issue and in this whether it is BEML or other PSUs, the entire thing has to be seen much more clearly."

At a press conference in Bangalore today, the BEML chairman and managing director had said that the company has slapped a legal notice on General Singh demanding an apology for his "false and motivated" allegations against it on the Tatra truck issue.

"Legal notice has been issued today. If he does not apologise, we may file a defamation suit against Gen V K Singh", Natarajan had told reporters.

Gen Singh, who retired on Thursday after holding the post of the Army Chief for over two years, had alleged that he was offered a Rs 14 crore bribe by a former officer to clear supply of a tranche of 600 Tatra trucks into which the CBI is investigating.