CBI questions George Fernades in ARV bungling case
Press Trust of India / New Delhi May 05, 2009, 18:25 IST
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has questioned former Defence Minister George Fernandes in connection with the alleged bungling of Rs 51.83 crore in the purchase of Armoured Recovery Vehicles (ARV) during 1998-2000.
A CBI team came to Fernandes' house on Monday morning and quizzed him in connection with the case as his name figured in the FIR filed by the agency.
During the 90-minute questioning by the CBI team led by Deputy Inspector General Tilotama Verma, the agency recorded his statement and asked him about his role before the tender was given to Czechoslovakia-based ZTS Martin, being represented by Unimpex.
Fernandes' lawyer Abhijat told PTI that "CBI team came on Monday morning in connection with the ARV case. They were there for 90 minutes and all questions to Fernandes were duly answered by him to the best of his knowledge and recollection, given the transaction is more 10 years old."
The CBI said the investigation was on and they would not like to comment on any development.
According to the FIR naming former Samata Party Treasurer R K Jain, arms dealer Suresh Nanda and other officials as accused, the CBI alleged that Nanda had approached Jain to stop the contract going in favour of PSP Bohemia of Czech Republic whose bid for 87 ARVs was the lowest at Rs 247.75 crore.
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