Army chief confirms bribe offer to CBI, gives no details

NEW DELHI: Army chief General V K Singh on Friday replied to CBI confirming his allegation that he was offered a bribe by a lobbyist to clear the supply of a tranche of "sub-standard vehicle" for the force.


Singh, who had made the allegation in a media interview that forced the defence minister to order a CBI inquiry, told the agency in a letter today that there was a bribe offer from a lobbyist but did not give details of the amount or the name of the person who made the offer, CBI sources said.


In his letter to the CBI, Gen Singh who returned to the capital after two days said he would give further details soon, they said.


The agency was waiting for a formal complaint from the Army chief regarding details of alleged bribe offer to initiate a formal probe into the matter referred to it by the ministry of defence. CBI officers had met him on Monday evening once.


The agency had asked the defence ministry to make available a complaint from Singh besides other details such as list of witnesses and supporting documents after which it would initiate its probe in the case, they said.


They said they have received a "reference" from the defence ministry to probe the matter and it has been processed as per the laid down procedure.


A preliminary enquiry or an FIR could be registered soon after completion of the procedural requirements.


The Army chief had claimed in media interviews that an equipment lobbyist had offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore, a matter which he had reported to defence minister A K Antony.


The ministry had then recommended a CBI probe into the allegation made by the Army chief.