Defence Ministry acts on CBI recommendations; fires BEML Chief

11 Jun 2012 Evaluate

In a major setback to the state-run defence unit - Bharat Earth Movers (BEML), the chief VRS Natarajan has been suspended by the defence ministry over his alleged role in the Tatra truck scam. The investigating agency has recommended the chief’s suspension in the back drop of allegations by army chief Gen V K Singh that he was offered Rs 14 crore bribe to clear a deal for 600 trucks.

'The government has put the CMD of BEML V R S Natarajan under suspension following a recommendation by the CBI that he should be kept away from the post to ensure fair investigation. Presently, the next senior most director P Dwarkanath is the acting CMD for the PSU.

In March 2012, Army chief Gen V K Singh uncovered the blanket over the alleged scam wherein he alleged of being offered Rs 14 crore bribe to clear a deal for supplying substandard Tatra trucks. Singh alleged that Lt Gen (retd) Tejinder Singh offered bribe on behalf of truck suppliers Tatra and Vectra. The army press release dated March 05 reported names of Tatra and BEML. So far around 7,000 Tatra trucks have been bought by the army since 1986.

Besides Tatra truck scam, Natarajan has been allegedly involved in a cheating case for awarding a contract for the implementation of the enterprises resource planning project, during 2004-09. Besides chairman, the director of Coimbatore based Astral Consultants C S Srivatsan has also been booked. Investigating agency has alleged that Natarajan is a part of cabal to award contract worth Rs 40 crore to Astral Consultants.

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