Tatra Truck Case: Former COAS VK Singh Cross-Examined As A Witness In Delhi Court

The Former Chief of Army Staff, General VK Singh (Retd) today cross-examined before Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court in connection to the CBI’s case concerning the Tatra Trucks Corruption Case.

Singh’s cross-examination has been further deferred where he was cross-examined before the Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar as a witness in the Tatra truck alleged bribery & corruption case and leveled allegations against Lt Gen Tejinder Singh that he has offered a bribe to him when he was the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in 2010.

Senior Advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey appeared for Lt. Gen Tejinder Singh and cross-examined Singh.
During the cross-examination, VK Singh said that he recorded the conversation of the meeting with Lt. Gen. Tejinder Singh with the help of a voice recorder.
He further stated that he transferred the voice recording from the voice recorder to a CD with the help of his desktop computer, he used to carry a personal voice recorder with him while he was COAS. It was handed over to the CBI.

During his cross-examination, VK Singh stated that it is wrong to suggest that I have deliberately fabricated the false story of recording the conversation of my meeting with Lt. Gen. Tejinder Singh on 22 September 2010.

Therefore, he rejected the contention that he had filed a false affidavit before this court. It is wrong to suggest that since there was no recording at all, time and again, I have shifted my stand and gave a false explanation during the investigation as well as proceedings before this court, he added.

The Court had framed charges in 2019 against former Lt Gen Tejinder Singh for allegedly offering a bribe to Ex-Army Chief General (Retd) VK Singh in the Tatra Truck Deal case.
Special CBI Arvind Kumar then framed charges as the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed trial. Court further stated that from the facts and circumstances, it is clear that accused Lt. Gel. Tejinder Singh is prima facie guilty of the offense under Section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Then, Army chief VK Singh (complainant) alleged that on 22.09.2010 during the meeting in the office of COAS, South Block, he was offered a bribe of ₹. 14 Crores by Lt. Genl. (Retd) Tejinder Singh on behalf of Ravi Rishi to clear the file for procurement of Tatra Vehicles within a month.

The court noted that there is no further dispute on the point that on a relevant date, the file relating to the purchase of Tatra Trucks was under consideration and the appointment taken is clear from the register D-10 maintained by the Army. Apart from that the accused Tejinder Singh has not denied the meeting. It is also very clear from the statement of complainant Gen. VK Singh, the then Chief of Army Staff that he asked his Military Attache J.P.Singh not to allow Tejinder Singh inside his office.