Tatra case: BEML chief suspended, says will come out clean

BEML Chief V R S Natarajan was on Monday suspended by the defence ministry in connection with the Tatra case on a Central Bureau of Investigation recommendation after former army chief General V K Singh levelled allegations that he was offered Rs 14 crore bribe to clear a deal for 600 trucks.

The move comes a few days after the defence ministry issued a show cause notice to the BEML Chief for slapping a defamation notice against Gen V K Singh without its permission.

After his suspension Natarajan said he respected the government's decision and maintained he would come out clean.

"I respect the decision of the government. I will come out clean in the case," Natarajan told the media who sought his reaction to the defence ministry's decision.

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"The government has put the CMD of BEML V R S Natarajan under suspension following a recommendation by the CBI that he should be kept away from the post to ensure fair investigation," Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said in New Delhi.

The CBI is currently investigating into various charges against Natarajan.
"The charge of CMD has been given to P Dwarkanath, the senior most functional Director in BEML," he said.

Natarajan is being questioned by the CBI in a separate case regarding alleged irregularities in procurement and supply of Tatra all-terrain vehicles to the army but he is not an accused in the case.

Gen V K Singh, who retired on May 31 after holding the post of the army chief for over two years, had alleged in March that he was offered Rs 14 crore bribe by Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh to clear supply of a tranche of 600 Tatra trucks from BEML.

On June 6, the defence ministry had sought an explanation from BEML chief VRS Natarajan for serving a legal notice on Gen V K Singh demanding an apology for his alleged defamatory statements against the defence PSU on the Tatra truck issue.

The CBI has also booked the BEML chairman for alleged cheating, criminal conspiracy and corruption in connection with tendering process for hiring a private consultancy firm and carried out searches at several locations including his residence.

The case related to award of contract for the implementation of Enterprises Resource Planning Project in the public sector undertaking during 2004-09.

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