Army Chief didn’t want to pursue bribery case: Antony

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Lt. Gen. Tejinder Singh (Retd.), who had earlier denied allegations of offering bribes, was quoted by a TV channel as claiming that Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh had earlier even recommended his name to the government for a post-retirement senior position but that this had happened before the meeting between the two in September, 2010, on the “personal matter”.

He said there was no discussion on any defence deal during the meeting.
The government is also likely to ask the Army headquarters to explain the Army press statement on March 5, in which Lt. Gen. Singh was accused of offering bribes, which was not sent through the government mechanism of sending press statements.
On the Army Chief’s allegations about being offered a bribe of `14 crores earlier (in 2010) to clear induction of a few hundred trucks into the Army, defence minister A.K. Antony said in the Rajya Sabha, “More than a year ago... the Army Chief told me about this incident. He told me that one general, I think, Tejinder Singh, met him and offered him crores of rupees (as) bribe. I was shocked... Then I told him, ‘take action’. But he told me, ‘I (Gen. Singh) don't want to proceed with it’. I don't know why... After that, he did not give any written complaint to me or to the defence department.”
Mr Antony said he “could have acted” when Gen. Singh told him about the bribe offer but added that as a minister “I cannot act just on a complaint (unless it is written)... I did not get any written complaint (from the Army Chief)”. The minister further said, “I acted on my judgment. If I am wrong, you may punish me. I think I have done my best.”
The defence minister said that when he read about the allegations in a newspaper on Monday, he immediately told the defence secretary to take action without waiting for any formal complaint. He said a CBI probe had then been ordered. Analysts feel the episode of allegations by Gen. Singh is likely to enormously strain ties between the country's defence minister and the Army Chief.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Tejinder Singh’s petition in court stated, “Because of the false, unfounded and libellous statement and illegal act in the past and present by the accused persons, not only the complainant's reputation and honour has been lowered/harmed but he is being held up to ridicule in his business, fraternity, acquaintances and family alike, leading others to avoid and shun him... and they have caused immense incalculable loss and damage to the reputation of the complainant and loss of business opportunities in present and in future.” In his complaint, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Tejinder Singh has also named Army vice-chief Lt. Gen. S.K. Singh besides three other officers.
Meanwhile, amid speculation on Tuesday evening that some CBI officials met the Army Chief to collect documents related to the case, referred to it by the ministry, a senior CBI official said that no such meeting took place, adding, “Without registering either a preliminary enquiry (PE) or a regular case into the matter, the agency sleuths cannot meet any defence functionaries.”