CBI to question rtd Army officials who joined Vectra
The agency is trying to establish alleged links of Rishi in the Defence establishment who helped him in procurement and supply of Tatra all terrain vehicles from BEML, sources said.
The agency has questioned a number of officials of BEML and Vectra in connection with the case.
CBI sources said they are suspecting that these officials during their tenure at Master General Ordnance Branch and the Directorate General of Quality and Assurance did not underline shortcomings in the Tatra vehicles.
They
said
Army
officers
had
highlighted
shortcomings
in
the
Tatra
vehicles
especially
alleged
problems
encountered
during
the
high
altitude
operations
on
a
higher
gradient
levels
but
the
two
branches
did
not
question
the
suppliers
on
these
issues.
Two
out
of
three
officials
who
are
under
scanner
had
joined
Vectra
Engineering
while
one
joined
Vectra
Global
Helicorp
at
senior
positions
post-retirement,
they
said.
The
agency
has
written
to
the
Defence
Ministry
seeking
records
of
quality
checks
done
by
it
and
reports
of
field
offices
who
were
using
these
vehicles
during
the
period.
CBI is also probing if better vehicles were available with Czech Republic based Tatra, why were they not preferred despite supply agreement renewed twice - in 1997 and 2003. Sources said the CBI is also trying to ascertain whether these officers received any alleged largess of Rishi during their service and whether any crucial information on procurement was passed on to Rishi.
Vectra Chairman Rishi is also Director with Tatra Sipox UK with which the BEML had signed contract for supply of all terrain vehicles.
However, CBI has found that the company was merely a minority stake holder on original equipment manufacturer Tatra. The signing of deal with Tatra Sipox UK was allegedly done in violation of defence procurement rules. Ravinder Rishi has refuted allegations against him.
CBI sources said DRDO also procured vehicles from Tatra for its missile systems which fared much better than those procured by the Army through BEML.
The agency is probing alleged irregularities in assigning supply from the Czechoslovakia-based Tatra, with which the agreement was originally signed in 1986, to the Tatra-Sipox UK owned by Rishi in 1997 showing it as Original Equipment Manufacturer and the fully-owned subsidiary of the Czech company which was against rules, they said.
PTI