CBI gets Centre's permission to probe suspended BEML chief

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday got a formal permission of the Centre to probe the alleged role of suspended BEML chief VRS Natarajan in connection with the Tatra vehicle deal.

This comes hours after the Ministry of Defence suspended Natarajan following a recommendation by the CBI that he should be kept away from the post to ensure fair investigation.

The charge of CMD was given to Shri P Dwarkanath, the senior most functional Director in BEML.

The CBI got the formal permission from the Centre hours after the Ministry of Defence suspended the BEML chief.

The CBI is currently investigating into various charges against Natarajan.

Former army chief General VK Singh had claimed that the Tatra trucks sold to the army were not only grossly overpriced but also sub-standard in terms of quality and operation.

In a startling revelation, General VK Singh had also alleged that a former army officer offered him Rs 14 crore bribe for clearing the order to supply an additional 600 Tatra trucks to the army.

Earlier, BEML had said it would file a defamatory suit against General Singh for making false and motivated charges against the state-run company in the controversial Tatra trucks deal.

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