The CBI, probing alleged irregularities in purchase of around 6,000 Tatra trucks for the Indian Army, has also started investigating alleged links of London-based businessman Ravi Rishi, chief of the UK-based Vectra Group, with the suspended IAS couple of Bhopal Arvind Joshi and Tinoo Joshi.
According to CBI sources, the agency officials have started scrutinising bank accounts of the IAS couple, who were suspended by the Madhya Pradesh government after the income-tax department recovered more than `3 crores cash after a raid at their house in February 2010, in this regard. “The agency officials are now probing the alleged links of Rishi, who is a majority stake holder in Tatra Sipox UK and an accused in the case of alleged irregularities in the purchase of more than 6,000 Tatra trucks being probed by the CBI, with the IAS couple,” sources said.
Sources further said, “The agency officials are taking assistance of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is also probing irregularities in the procurement of Tatra trucks, and the I-T department in this regard.” The CBI officials have started scrutinising transaction details of 70 bank accounts of the suspended IAS couple in this regard, sources said adding all entries in their accounts and related transaction details are being examined.
If required, the CBI officials may question the suspended IAS couple in this regard, sources said. “Acquisition of majority shares in the India Exposition Mart Ltd (IEML), Greater Noida, by the Vectra Group is already under the scanner of the CBI. There are allegations role of Ms Joshi was crucial role in this acquisition. The agency officials, which recently conducted raids at the IEML in Greater Noida, have recovered certain documents in this regard.”
It is believed that when the Vectra Group acquired maximum shares in the IEML, Ms Joshi was posted as development commissioner handicrafts, ministry of textiles, government of India, sources added. “The agency officials are planning to question Ravi Rishi in this regard. The agency has also sought assistance of the Interpol..” sources said.