Fresh row over Army chief's bribe remarks

The Government was today caught in a fresh controversy over Army chief Gen VK Singh's allegation that he was offered a bribe of Rs 14 crore to swing a 'sub-standard' defence deal and a stunned Defence Minister ordered a CBI inquiry into it.

Parliament was rocked by the Army chief's allegations which the Opposition said were serious and accused the Government of doing nothing about it.

Gen Singh had claimed in the media interview that a lobbyist who had "just" retired had offered him a bribe of Rs 14 crore for clearing a file relating to a purchase of a tranche of 600 "sub-standard" vehicles of a particular make.

"Just imagine, one of these men had the gumption to walk up to me and tell me that if I cleared the tranche, he would give me Rs 14 crore. He was offering a bribe to me, to the Army chief. He told me that people had taken money before me and they will take money after me," Gen Singh said.

He said he was "shocked" by the offer and reported the matter to Defence Minister AK Antony, who "banged" his head and replied that such people should be kept out.

Gen Singh did not specify the time when the episode took place or the name of the person who made the offer.

Soon after the story broke out, Antony described the matter as "serious" and ordered a CBI inquiry.

Lt Gen Tejinder Singh, who was earlier blamed by the Army of leaking stories about snooping of Defence Minister's phones and who is speculated in the media as the "lobbyist" who made the bribe offer, denied the allegation.

"I have nothing to do with the TATRA (trucks involved in the purported bribe offer). I have not worked for any private or defence company," he said adding he would  take legal action but did not specify as to against whom.